The Business of Broadband

FCC Chariman Julius Genachowski

Next Tuesday, March 16th, the FCC will announce the details of the National Broadband Plan–sort of.  One thinks of an announcement as being the first time you would hear something.  However, it seems as we approach the official unveiling of the plan that details are being announced daily.  I have to wonder if there will be any surprises by that point.

One thing is certain. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is a big supporter of fast and ubiquitous broadband for all Americans. He understands the importance of broadband for education, medicine, small businesses, and job creation as well as the ability for people to find jobs. He knows that for the United States to maintain its competitiveness in a global economy, and to once again take a leadership position, that we must focus on leading the world in broadband deployment.

Genachowski likens the “transformative power” of broadband to that of the advent of electricity.  From his prepared remarks at the NARUC Conference in February:

Electricity reshaped the world — extending day into night, kicking the Industrial Revolution into overdrive, and enabling the invention of a countless number of devices and equipment that today we can’t imagine being without. Now in the 21st century, it is high-speed Internet that is reshaping our economy and our lives more profoundly than any technology since electricity, and with at least as much potential for advancing prosperity and opportunity, creating jobs, and improving our lives.

Following are some of the details and proposed initiatives in the plan that have already been announced:

• 25 Billion in new federal spending for high-speed Internet
• A “2020 vision” for “100  squared” broadband–100 million American households with 100Mbps access
• Increasing the broadband adoption rate from the reported 65%  to at least 90%
• Transitioning the Universal Service Fund within ten years from promoting the deployment of telephone service in rural areas to promoting broadband deployment
• Freeing up a significant amount of spectrum in the years ahead for additional mobile broadband needs
• Setting aside spectrum for free or low-cost Wireless broadband service
• Improving the E-Rate program to bring better broadband to schools and libraries
• Modernizing the rural telemedicine program
• Creating a working group to increase adoption for those with disabilities
• Leveraging broadband access to accelerate the development of a smart grid
• Changing competition rules and funding small business development centers to assist businesses in rural areas
• Lowering the cost of broadband build-out through the use of government rights of way and conduits
• Creating a single, integrated public safety network for police and other first responders.

These are, no doubt, good goals.  The question will be whether congress will have the stomach to pay for it. With a health-care bill looming, and already huge deficits, the thought of 25 billion in new spending may not play well in Washington right now.

So, come back next week, same time, same channel.  I’ll post a follow-up article after the meeting to see what announcements, other than the previously announced announcements, will be announced.

What about you? Do you know of any other proposals in the plan, or have any guesses on what else might be included?  Leave a comment and let me know.