| ***WC 04-54 |
Comments due May 10, 2004.
Replies due May 24, 2004. |
Ex
Parte Period |
| Fourth Sec. 706
Notice of Inquiry |
"Today, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) launched an
inquiry into whether "advanced telecommunications
capability," or broadband,
is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and
timely fashion. As broadband networks become vital
to the economy, healthcare,
education, and other areas impacting the American
public, the Notice of Inquiry (NOI) adopted today will
analyze the various market, investment and technological
trends of broadband deployment.
In the NOI adopted today, the FCC seeks
information consistent with the framework utilized in
past broadband reports, including: (i) how the
Commission should define advanced telecommunications
capability (ii) whether advanced telecommunications
capability is being deployed to all Americans (iii)
whether the current level of broadband deployment is
reasonable and timely, and (iv) what actions, if any,
can be taken to accelerate broadband deployment.
Additionally, extending its analysis beyond the
framework of previous broadband reports, the FCC seeks
to develop a factual record on:
1. Trends in other nations and how America's deployment
of advanced telecommunications capability affects its
role in a global economy.
2. The availability of advanced telecommunications
capability in different market segments and areas of
varying densities.
3. The economic considerations that support the
deployment of advanced telecommunications
capability.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed the FCC to
conduct regular inquiries concerning the availability of
advanced telecommunications capability, and report its
findings to Congress. Twice a year, the FCC
gathers and publishes data about deployment of, and
subscription to, high-speed and advanced services from
facilities-based providers who have 250 or more
high-speed service lines or wireless channels in service
in a state, using FCC Form 477. At the request of
carriers submitting Form 477, the FCC does not reveal
individual company data.
As required by statute, the FCC will conclude this NOI
and issue its report to Congress within 180 days. -- Press
Release
CC Docket
98-146
Released August 10, 2001 |
Comments due Sept 24;
Replies due Oct 9 |
|
|
3rd
Sec. 706 Notice of Inquiry
|
. |
FCC
Press
Release: Today, the Federal Communications
Commission(FCC) initiated its third inquiry
under section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of
1996 into whether "advanced telecommunications
capability" is being deployed to all Americans in
a reasonable and timely fashion. Advanced
telecommunications capability is the availability
of high-speed, switched, broadband
telecommunications that enables users to originate
and receive high- quality voice, data, graphics,
and video using any technology.
In conjunction with today's inquiry, the Common
Carrier Bureau released its most recent data, as
of December 31, 2000, on subscribership to
high-speed services (see attached).
In order to make informed judgments about whether
broadband deployment is reasonable and timely, the
Notice of Inquiry issued today seeks objective,
empirical data about the current state of
broadband deployment. Specifically, the Commission
seeks information regarding the extent to which
broadband infrastructure is being deployed, and
asks the following:
1.Is advanced telecommunications capability
being deployed to all Americans? The inquiry
seeks data that will enable the Commission to
measure investment in and deployment of advanced
telecommunications capability, and subscription
for different technologies, geographic areas and
diverse socio-economic groups.
2.Is overall deployment reasonable and timely?
The inquiry seeks comment on the evaluative
criteria used to determine whether the
deployment of advanced telecommunications
capability is reasonable and timely.
3.If deployment is not reasonable and timely,
what actions will accelerate deployment? The
inquiry then seeks comment on the actions the
Commission could undertake if it determines that
advanced telecommunications capability is not
being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable
and timely fashion.
The Commission gathers data about deployment of,
and subscription to, high-speed and advanced
services from facilities-based providers who
have 250 or more high-speed service lines or
wireless channels in service in a state, using
Form 477. At the request of carriers submitting
Form 477, the Commission does not reveal
individual company data.
The Commission's previous section 706 reports
were released in February 1999 and August 2000.
In the last report, the Commission found that
deployment of advanced telecommunications
capability generally appeared reasonable and
timely, although certain groups of consumers may
be vulnerable to not receiving timely deployment
of advanced telecommunications capability by
market forces alone.
As required by statute, the Commission will
conclude this inquiry and issue its third Report
to Congress within 180 days.
-FCC-
|
IN
THE
MATTER OF INQUIRY CONCERNING THE DEPLOYMENT OF
ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY TO ALL
Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion,
and possible steps to accelerate such deployment
pursuant to sec 706 of the telecom act Dkt No.
98-146, fcc 2/8/02
Fed
Reg Notice
3rd 706 Notice pdf
| Text
|Word97
| Statement
C
Martin
Press
Release
|
FCC
touts broadband success, MSNBC 2/8/02
FCC
says
broadband Web access grows, Nando 2/8/02
FCC
touts broadband success, CNET 2/8/02
|
