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FCC Finally Begins To Tackle Big Agenda

National broadband plan, DTV transition cleanup first on list

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 3, 2009

"We must find ways to ensure that all people of the United States have access to broadband," new FCC chair Julius Genachowski said at the commission's meeting on Thursday. "We must devise a detailed strategy to ensure affordability of broadband."

The agency's plan included the unveiling of a new Web site, Broadband.gov, which would act as a central clearinghouse for the strategy's data, including information and eventually mapping of areas that are underserved or unserved by incumbent cable and telecom companies.

The FCC also plans to host workshops across the country in August and September, to gather information from communities on what they want and need in terms of better broadband availability, access, and options. The agency plans to issue its first report in November, with a full plan scheduled to be delivered to Congress and the Obama administration by February 2010.

Blair Levin, a former FCC commissioner and member of Obama's transition team who was chosen to head up the national broadband strategy, said any plan should "[represent] a view that while broadband...is not the sole solution, it is part of the solution for all of the challenges that our country faces."

DTV "mission not accomplished"

Also on the agency's docket is dealing with aftereffects of the transition to digital broadcast signals for television (DTV). Although the FCC and most news sources declared the switchover to be a success, ConsumerAffairs.com has been receiving regular complaints from viewers who have lost channels, can't receive the DTV signals, or need additional equipment to view channels they could once watch for free.

"[O]ur mission here is not yet accomplished," Genachowski said. "Today's panel has reported that there are consumers and individual broadcasters who still need our help. Therefore, I want to make clear that our doors and phone lines remain open for consumers who need assistance in the days and weeks ahead.

According to the FCC, call levels to the agency's help lines dropped from 317,000 on the day of the transition to an average of 43,000 per day during the week of June 15, and 21,000 per day during the week of June 22. Most of the calls dealt with procuring free coupons to subsidize purchase of a digital converter box to pick up signals.

Meredith Attwell Baker, who headed the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) under President Bush, and oversaw the controversial coupon program, will be joining Genachowski on the FCC, along with current commissioners Michael Copps and Robert McDowell, and new commissioner Mignon Clyburn.

Larry Strickland was confirmed as the new head of the NTIA on June 26. Among his duties will be to oversee disbursment of grants for broadband development and access as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), aka the economic stimulus package.

Former FCC member Jonathan Adelstein resigned to head up other disbursement grants of the broadband stimulus at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), while former FCC chairman Kevin Martin resigned immediately after Obama was elected president.

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