The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council is developing what it says is the “first ever” program to certify professionals who design, administer, and manage FTTH systems.
FTTH Council to develop certification program
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 25th, 2010 | No Comments »
RUS Announces Additional Broadband Stimulus Funding
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 25th, 2010 | No Comments »
The Rural Utilities Service announced broadband stimulus funding for 12 projects in eight states. The projects have a total value of $150 million plus an additional $68.2 million in private investment matching funds. The funds will be used to help bring broadband to communities in Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas.
FCC Launches National Broadband Plan
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 18th, 2010 | No Comments »
The FCC officially released its National Broadband Plan on March 16th. It was then sent to Congress on March 17th. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, from which the broadband stimulus program flows, mandates that the FCC author this master plan. The plan seeks to ensure that every American has access to broadband. The FCC says government can play a role in this effort by, 1) designing policies to ensure competition; 2) ensuring efficient management of assets such as spectrum and rights of way; 3) reforming the Universal Service Fund to support broadband; and 4) reforming policies to maximize the benefits of broadband in government-influenced sectors. Such sectors include education, health care and government operations. Read more »
FCC launches broadband test tools for consumers
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 12th, 2010 | No Comments »
The Federal Communications Commission has made two new digital tools available to consumers. The Broadband Dead Zone Report lets people submit the street address of a location where broadband is not available for purchase. The Consumer Broadband Test measures the speed and latency of the consumer’s broadband connection and reports that information to consumers and the FCC.
CenturyLink rolls out 40G wavelength services
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 10th, 2010 | No Comments »
CenturyLink has deployed what it calls “40Gigabit Waves” on its existing fiber optic transport network. The move is aimed at providing wholesale customers, particularly wireless operators, with a more economical alternative to using multiple 10 Gb/s connections to handle backhaul traffic. That traffic has been increasing dramatically for many carriers, driven by increased use of mobile data services.
FCC Chairman reveals wireless aspects of National Broadband Plan
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 3rd, 2010 | No Comments »
With only about two weeks left before the FCC unveils its National Broadband Plan, Chairman Julius Genachowski has been revealing more and more details about what the plan will include. In an address to the New America Foundation on Feb. 24, he shared plans to make 500 megahertz of spectrum available with 10 years for mobile broadband use, along with a plan to add a mobility component to the Universal Service Fund.
New FCC study explores consumer reasons for not using broadband
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 3rd, 2010 | No Comments »
A new study released by the Federal Communications Commission says cost is the biggest reason more people do not use broadband at home.
Thirty-six percent of non-adopters surveyed pointed to affordability issues. That includes 15% who said they do not have broadband because the monthly fee is too expensive, 10% who said they cannot afford the installation fee or a computer and 9% who said they do not want to enter into a long-term service contract. According to survey respondents, their average monthly broadband bill is $41.
