The Federal Communications Commission is undertaking its most aggressive initiative in a decade: crafting a plan to ensure that every American has access to high-speed internet access. The most current news is on BroadbandBreakfast.com, your source for independent broadband news.
LONDON, March 12, 2010 – The United Kingdom’s largest cable operator, Virgin Media, has started a six-month trial of broadband services delivered by fiber attached to overhead telegraph poles installed almost a century ago, following relaxation of government rules.
The Knight Digital Media Center web site promotes the upcoming Broadband Breakfast Club, “Setting the Table for the National Broadband Plan: Where to From Here?”
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2010 – The FCC launched its consumer broadband test today, enabling consumers to test the speed and other performance measurements of their broadband connections.
LONDON, March 11, 2010 – European countries are adopting measures to reach 100 percent broadband penetration – and they’re going to reach that goal well before the United States.
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2010 –The Small Business Administration is requesting that the Federal Communications Commission look into redefining or revising size standards governing telecommunication services firms to better reflect current market conditions.
Representing a congressional district that includes Omaha, Nebraska, Republican Rep. Lee Terry knows first hand the benefits of advanced telecommunications. Omaha is home to four Fortune 500 companies and as highlighted in Stephen Colbert’s “Better Know a District,” Omaha is the teleservices capital of the country. Omaha is the teleservices capital not because Omahans lack of a notable accent as Colbert notes, but rather because Omaha has benefited from a very robust telecommunications network. In fact, Omaha has consistently maintained its place at the forefront of new telecommunications technologies. In the early 1980’s, Omaha was one of the first cities in the U.S. to develop a fiber optic cable network. By 1992, multiple carrier fiber optic networks provided service to the Omaha metro area, giving rise to a proliferation of teleservices operations in Omaha.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2010 – With the national broadband plan due to be unveiled next Tuesday at the Federal Communications Commission, the commissioners have been speaking about issues surrounding broadband adoption.
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has been particularly vocal about the need for affordable rates and increased digital literacy; both issues ranked at the top of reasons why non-adopters claim to not use the internet.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2010 – The Federal Communications Commission plans to release the National Broadband Plan on Tuesday, March 16, at its March open meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at agency headquarters at 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2010 – Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan on Tuesday compared broadband expansion in the United States to the development of the interstate highway system under President Eisenhower, speaking at the Knight Center for Digital Inclusion.
Also speaking at the event was Federal Communications Commissioner Chairman Julius Genachowski, who addressed the various impacts of broadband on the wider economy and the need for expansion in order to spur innovation. Genachowski also commented on the fact that the United States has fallen behind on key metrics; once number two globally, the United States has fallen to a distant 15 in connectivity.
WASHINGTON, March 9, 2010 – Public Knowledge, Silicon Flatirons and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation last week sponsored a half-day conference to discuss the Federal Communications Commission and its efforts in reform, regulatory responsibility and standard setting. The second panel looked at the pros and cons of regulation, self-regulation and co-regulation.