Implementing the National Broadband Plan | Agencies | Congress

Launch a National Digital Literacy Program

Recommendation #88
FCC Chapter: 9.3

Status: In progress

The federal government should launch a National Digital Literacy Program that creates a Digital Literacy Corps, increases the capacity of digital literacy partners and creates an Online Digital Literacy Portal.

Help anchor institutions obtain broadband connectivity, training, applications and services

Recommendation #85
FCC Chapter: 8.22

Status: Completed

The federal government and state governments should develop an institutional framework that will help America's anchor institutions obtain broadband connectivity, training, applications and services.

Expand USF support on Tribal lands

Recommendation #84
FCC Chapter: 8.21

Status: Completed

Congress should consider amending the Communications Act to provide discretion to the FCC to allow anchor institutions on Tribal lands to share broadband network capacity that is funded by the E-rate or the Rural Health Care program with other community institutions designated by Tribal governments.

Make clear that Tribal, state, regional and local governments can build broadband networks

Recommendation #82
FCC Chapter: 8.19

Status: Not Started

Congress should make clear that Tribal, state, regional and local governments can build broadband networks.

Establish a Tribal Broadband Fund

Recommendation #81
FCC Chapter: 8.18

Status: Completed

Congress should consider establishing a Tribal Broadband Fund to support sustainable broadband deployment and adoption in Tribal lands, and all federal agencies that upgrade connectivity on Tribal lands should coordinate such upgrades with Tribal governments and the Tribal Broadband Fund grant-making process.

Congress should consider expanding the Community Connect program

Recommendation #80
FCC Chapter: 8.17

Status: Not Started

Congress should consider expanding the Community Connect program

Expand combination grant-loan programs

Recommendation #79
FCC Chapter: 8.16

Status: In progress

Congress should consider expanding combination grant-loan programs.

Provide additional funding for Connect America Fund

Recommendation #78
FCC Chapter: 8.15
To accelerate broadband deployment, Congress should consider providing optional public funding to the Connect America Fund, such as a few billion dollars per year over a two to three year period.

Adopt a framework for long-term intercarrier compensation reform

Recommendation #70
FCC Chapter: 8.7

Status: Completed

The Federal Communications Commission should adopt a framework for long-term intercarrier compensation reform that creates a glide path to eliminate per-minute charges while providing carriers an opportunity for adequate cost recovery, and establish interim solutions to address arbitrage.

Make the Research and Experimentation (R&E) tax credit a longterm tax credit

Recommendation #58
FCC Chapter: 7.2
Congress should consider making the Research and Experimentation (R&E) tax credit a longterm tax credit to stimulate broadband R&D.