National Broadband Plan Released

The FCC has released the National Broadband Plan. The Commission proposes the connection of 100 million households to affordable 100-megabits-per-second service, affordable access in every American community to ultra-high-speed broadband of at least 1 gigabit per second at anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, and military installations,  making 500 megahertz of spectrum newly available for licensed and unlicensed use, move U.S. adoption rates from roughly 65 percent to more than 90 percent and make sure that every child in America is digitally literate by the time he or she leaves high school. The Commission also proposes to bring affordable broadband to rural communities, schools, libraries, and vulnerable populations by transitioning existing Universal Service Fund support, up to $15.4 billion over the next decade from the high cost fund to a Connect America Fund targeted to broadband.  To read the entire plan Click Here.

FCC Kicks Off Universal Service Reform

The FCC released their first NOI and NPRM today which looks to make dramatic changes to the Universal Service Program.  The goal is to transition Universal Service support from legacy telephone service to broadband communications; however, it appears more likely to shift USF away from a majority of the rural areas.  For more information on the NOI and NPRM Click Here.