Broadband Internet for All?

16.03.2010
Tomorrow, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will deliver its National Broadband Plan to Congress, in which it outlines an ambitious agenda for connecting "all corners of the nation" with what it is describing as "the communications network of the future -- robust, affordable Internet."

"The National Broadband Plan is a 21st century roadmap to spur economic growth and investment, create jobs, educate our children, protect our citizens, and engage in our democracy," said Chairman Julius Genachowski. "It's an action plan, and action is necessary to meet the challenges of global competitiveness, and harness the power of broadband to help address so many vital national issues."

"In every era, America must confront the challenge of connecting the nation anew," said Blair Levin, Executive Director of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative at the FCC. "Above all else, the plan is a call to action to meet that challenge for our era. If we meet it, we will have networks, devices, and applications that create new solutions to seemingly intractable problems."

So, speeches and soundbites aside - what does this actually mean for all of us? The bottom line is that the goal is for 100 megabits-per-second service in the vast majority of households in the United States as a baseline, and a broadening of the wireless spectrum for a better mobile experience. According to the Commission, more than 100 million Americans lack broadband Internet today, and 14 million do not have any kind of access, even if they want it.

The Plan's call for action over the next decade includes the following goals and recommendations:

* Connect 100 million households to affordable 100-megabits-per-second service, building the world's largest market of high-speed broadband users and ensuring that new jobs and businesses are created in America.