The Federal Communications Commission laid out their plan to develop a national broadband strategy yesterday, releasing a Notice of Inquiry which “seeks comment to inform the development of a national broadband plan for our country. Its focus is to enable the build-out and utilization of high-speed broadband infrastructure.”

The Commission went on to say, “But ‘infrastructure’ barely hints at the importance of what we are undertaking. Highspeed ubiquitous broadband can help to restore America’s economic well-being and open the doors of opportunity for more Americans, no matter who they are, where they live, or the particular circumstances of their lives. It is technology that intersects with just about every great challenge facing our nation.”

Read the FCC’s official announcement here (PDF file)

The Commission is currently seeking public input which it will consider before submitting a congressionally mandated plan by February 17, 2010.

Among the statutory requirements of the FCC’s plan:

“ The Recovery Act specifies that the Commission’s plan must include an analysis of several specific elements of broadband deployment. First, the Commission must analyze the most effective and efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access by all people of the United States. Second, the Commission must include a detailed strategy for achieving affordability of such
service and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and service by the public. Third, the Commission must include an evaluation of the status of deployment of broadband service, including progress of projects supported by the grants made pursuant to this section. Finally, the Commission must include a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing a broad array of public interest goals, including consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes.”

What should the FCC’s plan include? Comment below.

categories news