FCC identifies Critical Gaps in Path to Universal Broadband

The task force gathering data and developing draft proposals for the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan has identified critical gaps in the nation's policies, programs and practices that must be filled before America can take advantage of the technological advantages that universal adoption and deployment of affordable, robust broadband can bring. These gaps range across all elements of the broadband ecosystem, including networks, applications, devices, and end-user adoption.

Key gaps identified by the task force include:

1) Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) Structure: Doesn't support broadband deployment and adoption despite over $7 billion spent to subsidize telecommunications annually.

2) Broadband Adoption Gap: Increases the cost of digital exclusion to society.

3) Consumer Information Gap: Undermines competition, innovation, and choice.

4) Spectrum Gap: Frustrates mobile broadband growth.

5) Deployment Gap: High costs can limit broadband deployment.

6) Television Set-Top Box Innovation Gap: Hinders convergence, utilization, and adoption.

7) Personal Data Gap: Users need to control their own information.