FCC's Broadband Agenda This Week Begins with International Experience

The Federal Communications Commission is gearing up for another full week of National Broadband Plan workshops.

On Tuesday the discussion begins with an overview of the international experience with broadband, highlighting select national broadband strategies, with a particular focus on the deployment of broadband infrastructure, increase in adoption, and successful regulatory approaches. The workshop will discuss whether and in which areas the United States is behind relative to other countries; and of these, which areas the United States is on a path to catch up as well as which areas the United States is likely to stay behind in the absence of a policy intervention. On Monday the FCC released a list of participants including Cisco's Robert Pepper; Robert Atkinson of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; and Tim Kelly, the Lead ICT Policy Specialist at the World Bank.

Tuesday's second workshop will focus on opportunities for disadvantaged businesses. The workshop will explore whether small and disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) are poised to take advantage of broadband technology and its antecedent benefits to help these businesses grow and reach new markets. It will explore whether communities where such small businesses reside are equipped with broadband, understand the value broadband brings to the business equation, and what, if any, role government, educational institutions and the private sector should undertake to assist SDBs to incorporate and harness the power of broadband. This workshop will divided into three panels covering: 1) Institutional and Governmental Views, 2) A View from Small and Disadvantage Business Broadband Entrepreneurs, and 3) A View from Traditional Old-Line Businesses in the Age of Broadband. Thomas A. Reed, Director of the FCC's Office of Communications Business Opportunities will guide the discussion.

Wednesday will see a long discussion on broadband adoption and use. This week's agenda ends with discussions on broadband potential and impact on people with disabilities and education on Thursday. The workshops are open to the public -- attend live or register to watch online.