Broadband Calendar
The National Broadband Plan: Affordable-Speedy-Accessible-Competitive-Socially Sound
The National Broadband Plan submitted by the FCC is a window into the possibilities of creating a Gateway of economic growth for America.
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The FCC’s recent release of its long awaited Broadband Plan has hit the streets with a resounding affirmation of what America needs with connectivity, competitiveness, affordability, speed, and social readiness. If the plan is adopted as proposed, America will truly benefit from the economics of a public-private partnership in creating a superior broadband pipeline for global success, see (National Broadband Plan: Connecting America).
The Plan Outline:
- Accessible and Affordable to 100 million homes with speeds of 100 megabits upload and 50 download
- Be (Number One) in Mobility access and speeds compared to any other nation
- Create Universal Access for all Americans including the means, skills, and affordability; if they choose
- Upgrade Community Schools, Hospitals and Government buildings for access to 1 Gbps broadband service
- Create a Public Safety Wireless Network and access for all first responders
- Promote a Clean Energy Economy, and ensure Americans are able to track energy consumptions through broadband
The Road Map:
- Foster robust competition within the broadband sector to drive demand for increased network performance while lowering deployment cost of infrastructure; monitor and benchmark competitive behavior, provide consumers with performance of broadband services, reform access to right-of-ways, review wholesale access policies, and increase spectrum availability
- Reallocate the existing Universal Service Fund to provide all Americans with access to broadband just as the plan was used to fund telephone service to all Americans in the 20th Century
- Reclaim Broadcast Spectrum in auctions of, (300 MHZ by 2015-500 MHZ by 2020), for the Wireless Industry and other ancillary uses thereby fulfilling a need to expand a burgeoning Mobile demand in connecting consumers, businesses, and the public sector
- Promote E-rate and Rural Health Care Programs, support non-profit and government institutions with affordable and alternative means of connectivity to broadband infrastructures which allows lower investment costs by reforming incentive structures, licensing and data interoperability for all public organizations
Shifting Priorities
- The FCC moved to gather existing spectrum from the Broadcast Industry to help free up space for the Wireless Industry, in much need of new spectrum on its continued growth forecasts. The benefactors will be companies like Cisco, providing network support, and Verizon and AT&T Wireless operators. Broadcasters will benefit from sharing in spectrum auction fees of their unused bandwidth.
- The Universal Service Fund will be used to promote and incent companies to build-out their networks to underserved portions of the markets for wire-line and wireless access. This fund is severely outdated from its original intent of providing access to telephone service for the nation.
The FCC seems to have done its homework. Congratulations to the FCC commissioners, staff, and partners, for their hard work and dedication in creating a viable and workable solution for a National Broadband Plan roll-out for the next decade. While it is not heavy on regulation; the plan sets out a road-map to foster collaboration, innovation, investment opportunities, and transparency within its recommendations. Legislators should look to affirm the plan quickly and move forward with an innovative and economically sound superior broadband gateway for our public and private sectors.
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Broadband Calendar
DC versus SF: A Clash of Vision for Tech Policy Event on Monday, October 28, at 3 p.m. ET
From our friends at TechFreedom:
How do DC and SF think about the future? Are their visions of how to promote, and adapt to, technological change compatible? Or are America’s policymakers fundamentally in conflict with its innovators? Can technology ultimately trump politics?
In the near-term, are traditional left/right divides breaking down? What are the real fault lines in technology policy? Where might a divided Congress reach consensus on tech policy issues like privacy, immigration, copyright, censorship, Internet freedom and biotech?
For answers and more questions, join moderator Declan McCullagh (Chief Political Correspondent for CNET), and a panel of technology policy experts: Berin Szoka (President, TechFreedom), Larry Downes (author, Laws of Disruption), and Mike McGeary (Co-Founder and Chief Political Strategist, Engine Advocacy). This event is co-sponsored by TechFreedom, Reason Foundation, and the Charles Koch Institute.
RSVP here. A live stream will be available here, and you can follow the conversation on Twitter with #DCvSF.
When:
Monday, October 28, 2013
12:00pm – 1:30 PT
The live stream will be available on this page.Where:
Hyatt Regency
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
#broadbandlive
Broadband Breakfast Club Webinar, on Tuesday, October 22, at 11 a.m. ET, Will Focus on State Broadband Initiative Summits
October 18, 2013 – With several state broadband entities hosting summits in the remainder of October, the Broadband Breakfast Club is hosting its next webinar on the topic of “Upcoming State Broadband Summits: Michigan, Utah and Others Bring Intenet Knowledge and Practice For Economic Development” on Tuesday, October 22, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
October 18, 2013 – With several state broadband entities hosting summits in the remainder of October, the Broadband Breakfast Club is hosting its next webinar on the topic of “Upcoming State Broadband Summits: Michigan, Utah and Others Bring Intenet Knowledge and Practice For Economic Development” on Tuesday, October 22, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
REGISTER NOW for the Broadband Breakfast Club Webinar
State Broadband Initiative entities have played a significant role in mapping high-speed internet services over the past four years. Their data collection activities have opened the way for new applications and services, and for enhancing the broadband climate throughout the country. They also play a key role in convening, connecting and fostering collaboration among stakeholders in their respective states.
During the month of October, several states will be hosting broadband summits, including Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. In this FREE Broadband Breakfast Club webinar, we’ll speak with leaders from State Broadband Initiative entities about their upcoming summits.
Participants:
Kelleigh Cole, Manager, Utah Broadband Project
Erick Frederick, Executive Director, Connect Michigan
Other participants have been invited.
Moderator:Drew Clark, Chairman and Publisher, BroadbandBreakfast.com
REGISTER NOW for the Broadband Breakfast Club Webinar on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
#broadbandlive
Discussion About Needs and Issues in FirstNet at Broadband Breakfast Club Virtual Event
October 15, 2013 – The Broadband Breakfast Club posted the video of its virtual discussion, “How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?” featuring William Vallee, State Broadband Policy Coordinator, Office of Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut; Brett Kilbourn, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs, Utilities Telecom Council; and Penny Rubow, Program Manager for the FirstNet program in the State of Arkansas.
PLEASE BEGIN WATCHING THE VIDEO AT THE 5:00 MINUTE MARK: technical difficulties led to preview content being recorded.
October 15, 2013 – The Broadband Breakfast Club posted the video of its virtual discussion, “How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?” featuring William Vallee, State Broadband Policy Coordinator, Office of Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut; Brett Kilbourn, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs, Utilities Telecom Council; and Penny Rubow, Program Manager for the FirstNet program in the State of Arkansas.
PLEASE BEGIN WATCHING THE VIDEO AT THE 5:00 MINUTE MARK: technical difficulties led to preview content being recorded.
Also, below are the full PowerPoint presentations offered by Vallee and by Kilbourne.
William Vallee – Broadband Breakfast Webinar on FirstNet – 10 15 2013
Brett Kilbourne – Broadband Breakfast Webinar on FirstNet – 10-15-2013
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