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Government Reveals First Steps For Broadband Plans

Details remain scarce as agencies emphasize public comment

By Martin H.Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

March 11, 2009

Representatives of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) converged at the Department of Commerce to answer questions from lobbyists, tech journalists, and the many other interested parties eager to find out how the money will be used to expand broadband access in America. The details were scarce — by intention, as the agencies emphasized the need for public comment on the process before committing any funds.

"President Obama’s commitment to expanding broadband service to rural areas will provide rural communities with access to worldwide markets and the education, first responder, and health care resources they need to prosper and compete," said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "The Department of Agriculture stands ready to partner with the Department of Commerce and Federal Communications Commission to support the President’s goal to deploy high-speed internet service in rural and unserved communities."

Under the stimulus grant plan, $4.7 billion of the funding is allocated to the NTIA, an arm of the Commerce Department, while the remaining $2.5 billion goes to the Rural Utilities Service, administered by the USDA. The FCC will create plans to utilize the funding, including stipulations that any networks created using the funds be "open access," and usable by any provider or device.

NTIA administrator Bernadette McGuire-Rivera said the agency would be hosting meetings across the country from March 16 — 24 to solicit public comment about the plan, including building a precise definition of an "underserved" target area for broadband development.

The March 17 meeting will be held in Las Vegas, and the March 18 meeting will be held in Flagstaff, Arizona, the agency said.

The agency also set up a notice for public comment on its Web site, and urged interested parties to submit comments on the plan at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants.

The agencies are pushing to get as many comments as fast as possible, McGuire-Rivera said, because the plan is to disburse the money in three stages through September 30, 2010. The money is being disbursed in stages in order to give "shovel-ready" projects immediate funding, while giving newer projects a chance to get off the ground, she said.

Acting FCC chairman Michael Copps criticized the FCC's efforts to improve nationwide broadband access in recent years. "Seven years ago, shortly after I went to the FCC, the Commission issued another of its Congressionally-mandated Section 706 Reports about whether advanced telecom services were being deployed around America in a reasonable and timely manner. The answer always was yes, everything’s great, don’t worry, be happy. I wasn’t happy and I did worry."

Copps was enthusiastic about the promise of the new investment in American broadband, claiming that "The years of broadband drift and growing digital divides are coming to an end. We begin to understand how key broadband infrastructure is to the future of each and every one of us."

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