FCC Seeks Comment on Relationship Between Broadband and Economic Opportunity

The Federal Communications Commission seeks public comment on a series of questions related to small businesses (defined for purposes of this Public Notice as businesses with 500 or fewer employees), medium and large businesses (defined for purposes of this Public Notice as businesses with more than 500 employees), non-profit organizations, economic opportunity and workforce development.

The FCC questions hit on five areas:

1) Community hubs -- In areas of suboptimal deployment and adoption, local community hubs (defined as places such as libraries, community colleges, job training centers, unemployment offices, etc.) and organizations often present themselves as stop-gaps for individuals to obtain access to broadband. Are these hubs used in ways that create economic opportunities?

2) Business adoption and usage.

3) Regional economic development.

4) Government-Provided Social Benefit Programs: Informal research has suggested the provisioning of critical government services designed to help foster economic opportunity is an area where broadband could be instrumental in creating substantial value and efficiency. Under current benefit program constructions, not all those that are eligible actually receive benefits. The FCC seeks to understand the scope of the problem as well as the ways in which broadband may be able to alleviate it.

5) Workforce development.

Comments are due December 4.