FCC Releases National Broadband Plan

On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a national plan to expand broadband access and competition over the next decade. The plan calls for the establishment of new competition policies, ensuring the efficient allocation of spectrum and physical infrastructure, incentives and subsidies to expand access, and support for state and local initiatives. It also sets the ambitious goal of providing 100 million U.S. homes with affordable access to download speeds of 100 megabits per second (mbps), up from the current average of 2-3 mbps. The plan, which was mandated by the 2009 Recovery Act, is intended to improve the state of U.S. broadband, which continues to rank in the middle of the pack among OECD countries in terms of access, speed and affordability.

Over the past year, the FCC has been collecting input to help craft a long-term strategy for U.S. broadband. The resulting plan emphasizes the need for greater competition among service providers. In order to promote competition the agency will publish market-by-market information on broadband pricing and competition. The FCC will make use of the broadband mapping efforts supported by Recovery Act funds and will develop new ways of tracking the extent and quality of service. New disclosure requirements will require providers to be more transparent so that consumers can make informed decisions based on actual data transfer speeds.

The FCC also plans to make 500 megahertz of spectrum available for broadband over the next ten years. Of that spectrum, 300 megahertz would be available for mobile use within five years. Currently, the FCC only has 50 megahertz at its disposal. By freeing up additional spectrum, the FCC says it would be able to spur innovative uses of wireless technologies and create new revenue from spectrum auctions.

A new Connect America Fund would replace the existing Universal Service Fund. The change would shift the focus from expanding networks to ensuring adequate speeds and affordable service in underserved areas. To promote 3G and 4G wireless coverage, a new FCC Mobility Fund would provide targeted funding to states to improve wireless infrastructure. The plan also recommends subsidies to help low-income Americans get online by expanding the Lifeline and Link-Up programs at FCC.

To spur use, innovation and investment by the private sector, the plan includes several recommendations targeted toward specific industries. The FCC plans to revamp its Rural Health Care program to ensure that rural providers have access to affordable high-speed services. To accelerate the development of educational technologies, the plan recommends upgrading the FCC's E-Rate program to help foster wireless technologies that can be used in learning devices. The broadband plan also calls for the integration of broadband assessment into state and local economic development efforts.

Additional, long-term goals in the plan include:

• 100 million U.S. homes with 100 mbps actual download speeds and 50 mbps actual upload speeds;
• building the fastest and most extensive wireless networks in the world;
• ensuring that every American has the means and skill to subscribe to broadband services;
• making connections of 1 gigabit per second or higher available in every community through institutions such as schools, hospitals and government buildings;
• providing all American first responders access to a nationwide, wireless, interoperable broadband public safety network; and,
• allowing all Americans to track and manage their real-time energy consumption.

About half of the Plan's recommendations are addressed to the FCC, while the remainder are for Congress, the Executive Branch, and state and local government. Now that the plan has been transmitted to Congress, the FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative team, which developed the plan, will begin implementation within the FCC and commence working with other agencies.

Read the complete plan at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296935A1.pdf