Small Business and the National Broadband Plan

In December 2009, Sen Mary Landrieu, chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, wrote Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about small businesses and the National Broadband Plan. Especially in rural areas, Chairman Landrieu wrote, the lack of broadband is stifling small businesses. She asked the FCC to should review ways to further incentivize broadband deployment in rural areas.

In February 2010, Chairman Landrieu followed up with specific recommendation she hoped to see in the broadband plan: 1) Creation of a Broadband and Emerging Technologies Coordinator at the Small Business Administration, 2) Centralized information about Federal Broadband Programs, 3) Including Broadband in SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs, and 4) Focusing on Existing Innovation Programs.

On April 1, FCC Chairman Genachowski wrote back ensuring Sen Landrieu that the plan includes recommendations, strategies, and initiatives to empower small businesses - particularly a recommendation to foster development of a public-private partnership for small businesses. The Plan also recognizes the need for tools and training to enable small businesses to maximize the benefits of broadband. Mobile broadband will play a key role in bringing access to the areas of the nation beyond the reach of standard cable and DSL services. The Plan also recommends a major transformation of the Universal Service Fund converting it over time to broadband support and freeing up more resources to build 21st century communications networks.