The Federal Communications Commission plans to offer a “small number” of open public workshops to identify solutions to key issues in the Universal Service and inter-carrier compensation proceeding, wrote all five FCC commissioners in a blog post today.
FCC Commissioners to Hold USF Reform Workshops
Posted by: Mike Boehne | March 16th, 2011 | No Comments »
FCC Moves to Free Up Television Spectrum for Broadband
Posted by: Steve Senne | December 2nd, 2010 | No Comments »
The FCC this week laid part of the groundwork for implementing its plan to free up additional spectrum for broadband wireless, issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at freeing up some of the spectrum currently in the hands of television broadcasters. The NPRM could pave the way for broadcasters to voluntarily relinquish some of their spectrum holdings and to share in the proceeds of an auction of those holdings. That plan may receive some opposition, however, as broadcasters did not pay for that auction when it was licensed to them decades ago.
FCC Close to Freeing up TV ‘White Spaces,’ Resulting in More Broadband Wireless
Posted by: Steve Senne | September 3rd, 2010 | No Comments »
The Federal Communications Commission is close to finalizing rules for the use of unused television broadcast spectrum, also known as “white spaces,” the Wall Street Journal recently reported.
The spectrum in question includes the vacant bands between television channels—prime spectrum bands that have excellent propagation characteristics. Google and others have been lobbying the FCC to free up that spectrum to expand wireless data communications.
FCC Report Outlines Methodology Behind 4 Mb/s Broadband Target
Posted by: Mike Boehne | August 20th, 2010 | No Comments »
In a report recently released from the Federal Communications Commission, the agency shares the data it compiled to determine the 4 Mb/s minimum broadband speed recommended in the National Broadband Plan.
According to the agency, the average (mean and median) advertised download speed for U.S. residential
consumers is 7-8 Mb/s. But the mean actual speed consumers received was approximately 4 Mb/s and the
median actual speed was approximately 3 Mb/s.
First Round of Broadband Stimulus Program Officially Closed
Posted by: Mike Boehne | April 30th, 2010 | No Comments »
When NTIA announced its latest broadband stimulus awards on April 26th, it signaled the end of funding for round one of the stimulus program. RUS announced its last round one funding awards at the end of March.
So here are the final numbers for round one:
- 150 total awards announced
- $1.767B in grant funding
- $512M in loan funding
- $388M in matching private investment
- $2.67B in total actual dollars
Round Two is in full swing with all the applications already submitted. Announcements of Round Two winners are expected to begin this summer.
FCC Partners With SamKnows for Broadband Speed Testing
Posted by: Mike Boehne | April 12th, 2010 | No Comments »
The FCC announced they have contracted with U.K. firm SamKnows Limited to measure actual broadband speeds experienced by end users. As a part of the national broadband plan, the FCC is putting emphasis on broadband speeds, and even launched a couple broadband speed tools of their own.
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.
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.
