Cybertelecom Federal Internet Law & Policy An Educational Project

National Broadband Plan

FCC Launches Development Of National Broadband Plan
Seeks Public Input on Plan to Ensure Every American has Access to Broadband Capability

Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission today begins the process of developing a national broadband plan that will seek to ensure that every American has access to broadband capability.

In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - known as the stimulus package - Congress charged the Commission with creating a national broadband plan. In a Notice of Inquiry adopted today, the Commission begins a proceeding to create that national broadband plan, seeking input from all stakeholders: consumers, industry, large and small businesses, non-profits, the disabilities community, governments at the federal, state, local and tribal levels, and all other interested parties.

The Commission must deliver the plan to Congress by Feb. 17, 2010. It will provide a roadmap toward achieving the goal of ensuring that all Americans reap the benefits of broadband. The Recovery Act requires the plan to explore several key elements of broadband deployment and use, and the Commission now seeks comment on these elements, including:

• The most effective and efficient ways to ensure broadband access for all Americans
• Strategies for achieving affordability and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and services
• Evaluation of the status of broadband deployment, including the progress of related grant programs
• How to use broadband to advance consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation, and economic growth, and other national purposes.

Action by the Commission, April 8, 2009, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC 09-31). Acting Chairman Copps, Commissioners Adelstein, and McDowell. Separate statements issued by Acting Chairman Copps, Commissioners Adelstein, and McDowell. Docket No. GN 09-51 : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: April 8, 2009 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253 Email: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

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Workshops: FCC is holding a series of workshops related to the BB Plan. "The goal of the workshops will be to promote an open dialogue between the FCC and key constituents on matters important to the National Broadband Plan. Key constituents will include service providers, equipment providers, applications providers, community groups, and other groups that have a stake in the future of broadband. Workshops will consist of meetings held at the FCC. The public will have the opportunity to suggest meeting topics and questions for the workshops. All meetings will be broadcast over the Internet when possible, and archived for viewing at a later time to ensure that everyone has access to the content. All information gathered in these workshops will be made part of the record in the National Broadband Plan proceeding, GN Docket No. 09-51.  We will treat these as comments in accordance to the Commission Rule 47 CFR Part 1. "

A Google Calendar of the Workshops can be found on the Cybertelecom homepage. Check with Broadband.gov for the latest up to date info.

Broadband Plan Sub-NOIs	How to file comments :: File Comments with FCC Electronic Comment File System
8/20/09 Commission Seeks Targeted Comments on Defining Broadband. Public Notice: Word | Acrobat NBP Public Notice #1 GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51, 09-137 :: "In this public notice, we seek tailored comment on defining "broadband" for purposes of the Commission's development of a National Broadband Plan (Plan) pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), and for related purposes." Some background definitions.	Comment Due Aug 31, 2009 Replies Due Sept 8, 2009
Implementation of Smart Grid Technology n/a DA DA 09-2017	Comments Due 10/02/09
Telework   DA 09-2018 PN #3	Comments Due 09/22/09
9/1/9 Commission staff have hosted and continue to host a series of broadband workshops in order to better understand the broadband marketplace as well as the social implications and potential of broadband.. . . . We encourage anyone interested to respond to the facts and reasoning asserted during these workshops, or to raise facts and reasoning that should be a have been discussed. Public Notice: Word | Acrobat	Responses to: WS held Aug 6 - 20 due by Sept 15 . WS held Aug 25 - Sept 15 due Oct 2 WS held Sept 16 - Oct 20 due Oct 30.
PN#4 Broadband Accesibility for People With Disabilities Workshop II: Barriers, Opportunities, and Policy Recommendations DA 09-2080	Comments Due 10/06/09
PN#5 Broadband Deployment and Adoption on Tribal Lands DA 09-2093	Comments Due 11/9/9. Replies Due 12/9/9
Released:  09/28/2009.  Comment Sought On Spectrum For Broadband. (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 )  NBP Public Notice #6.  Issued an Erratum correcting Public Notice, DA 09-2100 released September 23, 2009.  WTB TXT	Comments Due 10/23/9; Replies Due 11/13/9
PN#7 Contribution of Federal, State, Tribal, and Local Government to Broadband DA 09-2122	Comments Due 11/6/9
Released: 09/28/2009. ADDITIONAL COMMENT SOUGHT ON PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND CYBERSECURITY ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN. (DA No. 09-2133). (Dkt No 94-102 09-137 06-229 07-100 09-47 06-150 05-196 07-114 09-51 ) NBP Public Notice # 8, PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED. WCB . Contact: Jennifer A. Manner at (202) 418-3619 TXT	Comments Due: 11/12/2009.
Released: 09/28/2009. Comments Sought On Opportunities For Disadvantaged Businesses In The Age Of Broadband. (DA No. 09-2137). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) NBP Public Notice # 9, Pleading Cycle Established. WCB . Contact: Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 11/02/2009.
PN#10 Broadband ClearingHouse DA 09-2197	Comments Due 11/06/9
PN#11 Middle Mile DA 09-2186	Comments Due 11/4/9
PN#12 Connecting Anchor Institutions to Fiber DA 09-2194	Comments Due 10/28/9
10/14/09 Comments Sought on Broadband Study Conducted by The Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Public Notice: Word | Acrobat NBP Public Notice # 13	Comments Due ___
11/03/2009. Comment Sought On Broadband Needs In Education, Including Changes To E-Rate Program To Improve Broadband Deployment Npb Public Notice # 15. (Da No. 09-2376). (Dkt No 09-137 02-6 05-195 09-47 09-51 ) Pleading Cycle Established. WCB . Contact: Anita Cheng at (202) 418-7400 or Sharren Bates at (202) 418-3615 TXT	Comments Due: 11/20/2009. Reply Comments Due: 12/11/2009.
Released: 11/10/2009. Comment Sought On Broadband Adoption. (Da No. 09-2403). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Nbp Public Notice #16, Pleading Cycle Established. WCB . Contact: Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/02/2009.
Released: 11/12/2009. Comment Sought On Relationship Between Broadband And Economic Opportunity. (Da No. 09-2414). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Nbp Public Notice #18. Wcb. Contact: Randy Clarke At (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/04/2009.
Released: 11/12/2009. Comment Sought On Health Care Delivery Elements Of National Broadband Plan. (Da No. 09-2413). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 02-60 09-51 ) Nbp Public Notice#17. Wcb . Contact: Ernesto Beckford At (202) 418-1523 TXT	Comments Due: 12/04/2009.
11/13/2009. Comment Sought On The Role Of The Universal Service Fund And Intercarrier Compensation In The National Broadband Plan. (Da No. 09-2419). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Nbp Notice #19. Wcb . Contact: Carol Mattey At (202) 418-3635 Or Rebekah Goodheart At (202) 418-1438 TXT	Comments Due: 12/07/2009.
11/17/2009. Comment Sought On Moving Toward A Digital Democracy. (Da No. 09-2431). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Pleading Cycle Established, Nbp Notice #20. . Wcb . Contact: Randy Clarke At (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/10/2009
Released: 11/18/2009. Comment Sought On Research Necessary For Broadband Leadership. (Da No. 09-2434). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Nbp Public Notice #22 - Pleading Cycle Established. . Wcb . Contact: Randy Clarke At (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/08/2009
Released: 11/18/2009. Comment Sought On Data Portability And Its Relationship To Broadband. (Da No. 09-2433). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Nbp Public Notice #21 - Pleading Cycle Established. Wcb . Contact: Randy Clarke At (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/09/2009.
11/20/2009.  Comments Sought On Network Deployment Study Conducted By The Columbia Institute For Tele-Information. (Da No. 09-2458). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 )  Nbp Public Notice #23 - Pleading Cycle Established. Wcb . Contact:  Randy Clarke At (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due:  12/04/2009.
11/24/2009. Comment Sought On Broadband Measurement And Consumer Transparency Of Fixed Residential And Small Business Services In The United States. (DA No. 09-2474). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) NBP PUBLIC NOTICE #24 - PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED. WCB . Contact: Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/14/2009.
Released: 12/01/2009. Comment Sought On Transition From Circuit-Switched Network To All-Ip Network. (Da No. 09-2517). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 ) Nbp Public Notice # 25, Pleading Cycle Established. WCB . Contact: Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/21/2009.
Released: 12/02/2009. Comment Sought On Uses Of Spectrum. (Da No. 09-2518). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51) Nbp Public Notice # 26, Pleading Cycle Established. . WCB . Contact: Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due: 12/21/2009
Video Device Innovation DA 09-2519 #27	Comments Due 12/21/2009
Broadband Deployment Financing #28 DA 09-2610	Comments Due 1/8/2010
Released:  01/13/2010.  Comments Sought On Privacy Issues Raised By The Center For Democracy And Technology. (DA No.  10-62). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 )  NBP Public Notice #29, Pleading Cycle Established. .  WCB . Contact:   Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Comments Due:  01/22/2010
Released:  01/13/2010.  Reply Comments Sought In Support Of National Broadband Plan. (DA No.  10-61). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47 09-51 )  NBP Public Notice #30. .  WCB . Contact:   Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 TXT	Reply Comments Due:  01/27/2010

 

• Options For A National Broadband Plan. Task Force Provides Framework for Final Phase in Development of Plan. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov OCH TXT
  • CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI PREPARED REMARKS ON NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN, FCC OPEN AGENDA MEETING,. OCH . WASHINGTON, D.C TXT
  • Remarks Of Commissioner Michael J. Copps At The Fcc Workshop On Speech, Democracy And The Open Internet. CMMR . WASHINGTON, DC TXT
  • Remarks Of Commissioner Robert M. Mcdowell, Federal Communications Commission, "Speech, Civic Engagement And The Open Internet" Workshop. Cmmr . Washington, D.C., As prepared for delivery TXT
• Broadband Task Force Delivers Status Report On Feb. 17 National Broadband Plan. Staff Details State of U.S. Broadband, Outlines Path Forward. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov OCH TXT
• 4/8/09 FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan.
  News Release: Word | Acrobat
  Notice of Inquiry: Word | Acrobat
  Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
  Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
  McDowell Statement: Word | Acrobat

Comment Date: June 8, 2009
Reply Comment Date: July 7, 2009

A NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE.  
Extended to July 21, 2009 Reply Comment Deadline
for National Broadband Plan NOI. On February 17, 2009, the President signed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, tasking the FCC with developing a National Broadband Plan by February 17, 2010. (Dkt No.  09-51 ). Action by:  By the Acting Chief,
Wireline Competition Bureau. Reply Comments Due:  07/21/2009. Adopted: 06/25/2009 by ORDER. (DA No. 09-1420).  WCB
TXT

July 2009: Harvard's Berkman Center To Conduct Independent Review Of Broadband Studies To Assist FCC. News Release. News Media Contact: Jen Howard, (202) 418-0506, Jen.howard@fcc.gov OCH TXT

CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI PREPARED REMARKS ON NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN PROCESS, FCC OPEN MEETING, WASHINGTON, D.C.,  JULY 2, 2009 by Statement. OCH   TXT

Workshops

Panelists Announced For Dec 10. Broadband Staff Workshop On Global Broadband. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov OCH TXT

Commission Announces Hearing On Capital Formation In The Broadband Sector. Panel of Experts on the Capital Markets to Testify. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253 WCB TXT

Field Hearings

FCC Announces Agenda And Panelists For Dec. 21 Broadband Field Hearing On Small Business At The University Of Chicago. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, CGB TXT

FCC Hosts Broadband Plan Field Hearing In Charleston, S.C. Sets date and time for FCC field hearing represented by Commissioners Clyburn and Copps. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov OCH TXT 

FCC Announces Initial Broadband Field Hearings. Visits are Part of Outreach for Development of National Broadband Plan. News Release. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov OCH TXT 

Legislation

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5 (Recovery Act) signed into law on February 17, 2009

Recovery Act s 6001 (k)

(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report containing a national broadband plan.

(2) The national broadband plan required by this section shall seek to ensure that all people of the United States have access to broadband capability and shall establish benchmarks for meeting that goal. The plan shall also include--

(A) an analysis of the most effective and efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access by all people of the United States;

(B) a detailed strategy for achieving affordability of such service and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and service by the public;

(C) an evaluation of the status of deployment of broadband service, including progress of projects supported by the grants made pursuant to this section; and

(D) a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes.

(3) In developing the plan, the Commission shall have access to data provided to other Government agencies under the Broadband Data Improvement Act (47 U.S.C. 1301 note).

News

• Levin: Your Broadband Comments Weren't Helpful - Broadband plan leader complains of sloppy, vague suggestions..., dslreports 7/27/2009
• "Net neutrality" gets white hot as FCC drafts broadband plan, Ars Technica 7/27/2009
• FCC Insider Levin Calls for Citizen Participation, Internet News 7/7/2009
• U.S. Government Launches New Broadband Website - 226 Days until we actually have a broadband plan..., dslreports 7/7/2009
• National Broadband map is just the beginning, blogger says, Connected Nation 7/2/2009
• Internet, Not Broadband, for National Policy, Peer Flow 6/25/2009
• The FCC Gets Bombarded With Broadband Opinions - Everybody, at once, chimes in on new broadband plan..., dslreports 6/11/2009
• WCAI Urges FCC to Make Mobility Cornerstone of America's Broadband Plan, WCAI 6/9/2009
• WISPA Files Response to FCC NOI on National Broadband Strategy, WISPA 6/9/2009
• NATOA, 17 Other Supporters, File Comprehensive National Broadband Comments with FCC, NATOA 6/9/2009
• Media Access Project Asks FCC To Prioritize First Amendment Values in Developing National Broadband Plan, MAP 6/9/2009
• "It's The Internet Stupid" .I Respectfully Disagree, CircleID 6/9/2009
• Tucows CEO tells why It's the Internet Stupid, ISEN 6/9/2009
• Public Interests Groups Tell FCC Broadband Should Be Treated As 'Essential Utility'-New Regulatory Structure, Spectrum Caps, Ope, PK 6/9/2009