April 8th, 2009
FCC takes first step toward National Broadband plan
The Federal Communications Commission said today that it has taken the first step toward developing a National Broadband plan to ensure that all Americans have access to high-speed Internet connections.
A CNET report notes, however, that the process could get bogged down by special interest groups who may use the opportunity to push their agendas on topics such as Net Neutrality. The FCC’s announcement today calls for input from “all stakeholders: consumers, industry, large and small businesses, non-profits, the disabilities community, governments at the federal, state, local and tribal levels, and all other interested parties.”
That’s a pretty big task and I can only imagine the amount of input the agency will receive - making the Feb. 17, 2010 deadline set by Congress that much more challenging. Still, it’s an important step for the nation. Internet access should be treated more like a utility - just like landline telephones and electricity - now that even government agencies send people to their Web sites to do things like process claims, request information or download forms.
As part of the process, the FCC will also address other key elements, including:
- The most effective and efficient ways to ensure broadband access for all Americans
- Strategies for achieving affordability and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and services
- Evaluation of the status of broadband deployment, including the progress of related grant programs
- How to use broadband to advance 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.
In a statement, Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein offered his thoughts on the role of government as it relates to broadband deployment:
To be clear, we are not substituting Government policy for market discipline. Any successful broadband strategy will rely primarily and extensively on the private sector to drive deployment and investment. We need to encourage capital investment, and find ways to facilitate access to the capital markets in these challenging times. A true public-private partnership will require far greater focus from our policy leaders to succeed. We need all players to work together.
It won’t be easy. Pulling off something to benefit the entire nation - combined with the input from those with differing ideas - in a relatively short amount of time will be quite the task.
As proof, consider a Reuters report on the uphill battle facing the Australian government, which said yesterday that it plans to build a $31 billion private-public broadband network over the next eight years. Already, the plan has its critics.
Sam Diaz is a senior editor at ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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