VOTW: Quality, High-Speed Broadband for All Americans
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 7, 2010 · 
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And last but not least, our video of the week (VOTW). NTCA has produced a short consumer-focused video highlighting the disparity of speed goals between urban and rural America.
The association suggests that you show this video at your local Rotary or civic club meetings, board or staff meetings, or other community events. Link to the video from your telco Facebook page or incorporate it into your local video programming. The more exposure the message gets, the more consumers we can reach and the more voices we can add to the debate. For more information on this tool, as well as news and information about other National Broadband Plan advocacy efforts currently underway, visit NTCA’s National Broadband Plan Resource Center.
Natl Broadband Plan: Watch the Presentation Live
Posted by Jesse Ward on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 · ·
Watch the FCC’s presentation of the National Broadband Plan live, online. The meeting will be broadcast from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT.
FCC Releases Exec Summary of Natl Broadband Plan
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 15, 2010 · ·
The FCC just released an executive summary showcasing the highlights of its National Broadband Plan, which will be presented to Congress tomorrow during an all-day presentation, and released for public consumption on Wednesday. The creation of the plan was mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which also funded the broadband stimulus program.
The Plan’s call for action over the next decade includes the following goals and recommendations: Read more
FCC to Propose USF for Broadband
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 8, 2010 · ·
The FCC spoke with reporters last Friday and revealed another glimpse into its forthcoming National Broadband Plan, set to be presented to Congress on March 16, one day earlier than previously anticipated.
The commission will propose transitioning universal service support, currently used for universal phone service, to enable universal broadband. The transition will take place in three stages, with the end goal to have more than 99% of Americans connected by 2020.
The commission will propose creating two funds: a Connect America fund that the high-cost fund will morph into overtime, and a mobility fund to extend 3G wireless broadband coverage in areas lagging behind the national average. Read more
FCC Previews National Broadband Plan
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 1, 2010 · ·
During the past few weeks the FCC has released details about its highly anticipated National Broadband Plan, set to be presented to Congress on March 17, including plans for a dramatic increase in broadband speeds, ideas to free up valuable spectrum, and plans to resurrect the 700 MHz public safety network.
The agency’s first ambitious goal: provide broadband speeds of 100 Mbps to 100 million households by 2020. To achieve this goal Genachowski said the broadband plan will recommend several ideas, including:
- Free up a significant portion of spectrum for licensed and unlicensed use
- Modernize the FCC’s rural telemedicine program to connect thousands of additional clinics across the country
- Improve the E-Rate program, which brings Internet to classrooms and libraries
- Lower the cost of broadband build-out, both wired and wireless, by using government rights of way and conduits Read more