Pew director Raine asks FCC about citizens in broadband plan
Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, asks how regular folks can be part of the national broadband plan.
March 2010
UK regulators officially mock US over ISP "competition"
Here's how US regulators do a broadband plan: talk about competition even while admitting there isn't enough, then tinker around the edges with running fiber to "anchor institutions" and start collecting real data on US broadband use. Here's how they do it in the UK: order incumbent telco British Telecom to share its fiber lines with any ISP who is willing to pay. In places where BT hasn't yet run fiber, order the company to share its ducts and poles with anyone who wants to run said fiber.
In the 14 percent of the UK without meaningful broadband competition, slap price controls on Internet access to keep people from getting gouged. Government regulations can't encourage innovation? That's not the way UK telecoms regulator Ofcom sees the world, and it takes a none-too-subtle dig at the US model. "Availability of super-fast broadband in the UK (some 46 percent of homes) is now ahead of most large economies where deployments have been funded commercially. In the US, AT&T and Verizon have upgraded their networks to cover 17 percent and 12 percent of households, respectively, while cable company Comcast is approaching coverage of around 35 percent of US households with super-fast cable broadband." In case you're not getting the message, Ofcom is prepared to bludgeon you over the head with it. "Aside from small urban countries with highly concentrated populations, like Singapore, the main countries which are currently leading in the rollout and take-up of super-fast broadband are those which have had significant government intervention to support deployment, such as Japan and South Korea."
Australian Government Says Can Build Broadband Network Without Telstra
Australia's communications minister, Stephen Conroy, said March 24 that negotiations are continuing between government-owned National Broadband Network Company and Telstra on how the two can work together on a planned national broadband network but NBN Co. can "absolutely" build the network without Telstra.
The minister's stance indicates the tensions between the government and the formerly state-owned telecommunications giant are still riding high. While he has threatened to forge ahead without Telstra's cooperation in the past, many analysts still view the company as best-placed to build the network given its vast existing infrastructure. Conroy would not comment on what Telstra last week called a "significant gap" between the parties' financial expectations about the worth of the company's assets that could be sold into the network. He declined to say what the size of the gap is, but confidential documents accidentally leaked by the government last October valued Telstra's telecommunications-network assets at anywhere between A$8 billion and A$40 billion, illustrating how difficult it is to put a price tag on the assets.
AT&T joins Verizon in calling for overhaul of telecom laws
Jim Cicconi, AT&T's top lobbyist, said that Congress should decide who has authority over broadband services and that lawmakers should step in before the Federal Communications Commission tries to reclassify broadband.
"If there are questions about the authority of the FCC in the Internet ecosystem, the proper answer is not for the FCC to get adventurous in interpreting its authority, as some are urging. Instead, any question of the FCC's jurisdiction over the Internet should properly be referred to the Congress for resolution." Cicconi wrote, "The FCC derives its authority from Congress, and if the courts say the FCC lacks the authority it needs to do what it wants to do, the proper--and constitutionally correct--answer is to ask the Congress to address the question."
US falls to fifth in IT rankings
The United States fell from third to fifth in the World Economic Forum's 2009-2010 information technology rankings. It currently trails Sweden, Singapore, Denmark and Switzerland in the group's annual comparison of states' IT venture capital, technology rules and standards and broadband availability, among other factors. Math and science education are lagging, while government services have yet to adopt the most current and effective information technology practices.
Spectrum crisis, maybe; spectrum reform, absolutely
[Commentary] In proposed legislation and oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, I have made spectrum policy reform a priority. I intend to introduce comprehensive spectrum reform legislation in the coming weeks to modernize policy and fix fundamental deficiencies in our nation's radio spectrum management and coordination activities. Taking this corrective action will allow us to meet the future telecommunications needs of all spectrum users. For consumers, these fixes will lead to additional choices, greater innovation, lower prices and more reliable services.
Specifically, this legislation will task the FCC and National Telecommunications and Information Administration to perform much-needed spectrum measurements to determine actual usage and occupancy rates. This data is fundamental to determining utilization metrics for different wireless services so that policymakers and the public can make informed decisions about future spectrum uses. Also required is a cost-benefit analysis of spectrum relocation opportunities to move certain incumbent users and services to more efficient spectrum bands. Many legacy wireless services could employ newer technologies to provide more efficient use of spectrum.
In addition, the bill requires greater collaboration between the FCC and NTIA on spectrum policy and management-related issues, implementation of spectrum sharing and reuse programs, as well as more market-based incentives to promote efficient spectrum use. It also sets a deadline for the creation of the National Strategic Spectrum Plan, which will provide a long-term vision for domestic spectrum use and strategies to meet those needs. While the National Broadband Plan touches on several of these areas, my legislation will provide greater assistance in developing a 21st century comprehensive spectrum policy necessary to meet the future spectrum needs of all users. Because we must not forget that spectrum is essential for not just wireless broadband but also surveillance, imaging radar, radio navigation such as GPS, and several other radio-based services.
While spectrum is the oxygen of the industry, oxygen constitutes only 21 percent of the air we breathe. So in order to foster the continued health of wireless, we cannot excessively rely on spectrum reallocation. What is required is a multi-faceted solution that also includes robust spectrum management policy, which explores spectrum sharing and reuse opportunities, technical innovation such as spatial multiplexing, femtocells, smart antennas, and cognitive radio, as well as even greater fiber optic backhaul investment. Our nation's competitiveness, economy, and national security demand that we allocate the necessary attention to this policy shortcoming — it is the only way we will be able to avert a looming spectrum crisis and continue to realize the boundless benefits of spectrum-based services.
10 More BTOP Grants
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced 10 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and healthcare across the country. The investments, totaling more than $63 million in grants, will increase broadband access and adoption in more than a dozen states. The grants will fund projects that lay the groundwork to bring enhanced high-speed Internet access to thousands of households and businesses and link hundreds of schools, hospitals, libraries, and public safety offices to the information superhighway.
Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority: $32.2 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $13.8 million applicant-provided match to bring high-speed affordable broadband services to the Navajo Nation by deploying 550 miles of new aerial fiber-optic cable and 59 new or modified microwave towers covering 15,000 square miles in three states. The proposed service area has rugged terrain and significant poverty, and more than 60 percent of residents lack basic telephone service. The project expects to directly connect 49 Chapter Houses, which serve as community centers for the Navajo population, at speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps. Last-mile wireless services will be offered at speeds between 1 and 3 Mbps through the project's wireless partner, Commnet Wireless.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas - Mission Economic Development Agency: $3.7 million public computer center grant with an additional $2.5 million applicant-provided match to create 12 new public computer centers and expand five existing ones in Phoenix, Ariz.; Canoga Park, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Calif.; Del Norte, Colo.; Blackfoot, Idaho; Wheaton, Md.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Anthony, NM; Philadelphia, Pa.; and San Antonio and Laredo, Texas. Each center expects to operate on the project's centrally managed network and provide computer training and adult education to a low broadband adoption, high unemployment target population through a standardized English-Spanish training curriculum.
Idaho - First Step Internet: $2.4 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $600,000 applicant-provided match to build a regional network of 10 microwave towers to extend high-capacity Internet service in the rural counties of Latah, Idaho, Clearwater, Lewis, and Nez Perce in north-central Idaho. The project intends to directly connect 42 anchor institutions, including healthcare facilities, emergency response agencies, libraries, and government offices, as well as institutions serving the Nez Perce Tribe.
Illinois - City of Chicago: $7 million sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $2.3 million applicant-provided match to spur economic development in five disadvantaged neighborhoods in Chicago with a comprehensive broadband awareness and adoption program that will include providing computers and training opportunities to more than 11,000 residents and 500 small businesses and not-for-profits. The project intends to create public computer centers at six community centers for working families and expand workstation capacity at four Business Resource Centers, as well as provide 1,500 residents and small businesses that complete a multi-session training course with laptops and netbooks.
Minnesota - C.K. Blandin Foundation: $4.9 million sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $1.5 million applicant-provided match to launch the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities initiative, a multi-sector, comprehensive approach to sustainable broadband adoption targeting residents, small businesses, local governments, and critical services providers in each of Minnesota's 80 rural counties. The project anticipates training as many as 2,500 individuals in computer literacy, online education, and workforce development, and plans to distribute 1,000 affordable refurbished computers. Funding will also support the development of institutional broadband applications for schools and healthcare facilities to help increase broadband adoption.
North Carolina - Fayetteville State University: $1 million public computer center grant with an additional $263,000 applicant-provided match to provide 30 new computer workstations, wireless Internet access, and training courses at a new public computer center for the Fayetteville, North Carolina, community, including residents of local public housing. The project will include courses on Internet basics, personal finance and health, and basic job skills. The first 50 users to complete all of these courses will receive a laptop computer for home use. This project will be led by Fayetteville State University, a Historically Black University, in partnership with the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority and other organizations that will provide training targeted to the needs of low-income persons.
Ohio and Pennsylvania - Zito Media Communications: $6.1 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $1.5 million applicant-provided match to create a 382-mile fiber ring with 10 gigabits of capacity through the counties of Geauga, Ashtabula, and Trumbull in Northeastern Ohio, and the counties of Erie, Crawford, and Mercer in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The project plans to deploy 342 miles of new fiber and 40 miles of leased fiber to directly connect an estimated 60 community anchor institutions at speeds from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps, including hospitals, schools, public safety agencies, colleges, and libraries.
Vermont - Vermont Council on Rural Development: $2.5 million sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $1.2 million applicant-provided match to increase broadband Internet access and adoption in 24 small, mostly rural communities through a comprehensive effort combining broadband training, access, awareness, and planning. The Vermont Council on Rural Development and its project partners plan to train more than 1,800 individuals and distribute an estimated 1,200 computers to 4th and 5th grade students, as well as work with teachers to integrate broadband usage into lesson plans.
Virginia - Nelson County of Virginia: $1.8 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $457,000 applicant-provided match to enhance and expand broadband Internet services in areas of rural Nelson County, Virginia by deploying 31 miles of new fiber and four new wireless tower sites, and directly connecting 13 community anchor institutions. The anchor institutions receiving direct connections to the new network are expected to include seven county government facilities, four K-12 schools, a library, and the Blue Ridge Medical Center.
Virginia - Page County Broadband Authority: $1.6 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $412,000 applicant-provided match to deploy a 39-mile fiber network that will serve the four principal towns in Page County, Virginia, a rural and underserved area in the Shenandoah region of Western Virginia. The network expects to directly connect 29 anchor institutions including, 11 K-12 schools, three libraries, six healthcare facilities, Lord Fairfax Community College, and eight public safety institutions.
ACA Criticizes Some Broadband Stimulus Fund Distribution
The American Cable Association says that the Rural Utilities Service has been handing out broadband stimulus money to fund service in competition with its members -- small and medium-sized cable/telecom companies.
In a letter to RUS administrator and former FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, ACA President Matthew Polka said ACA was "disappointed" to learn that some of the grant and loan money was going to areas "already sufficiently served with broadband." Polka said that the award process does not allow for operators to review the applications to ensure their accuracy. Polka wants RUS to adopt a formal review process that allows aggrieved parties to submit additional evidence, and in the meantime review all the round one applications (round two bids were due March 15) to make sure that no funding will be used to overbuild existing service.
Qwest seeks broadband stimulus grant
After dropping hints several weeks ago that it might apply for broadband stimulus funds in the second funding round, Qwest Communications today confirmed that it will seek a $350 million grant from the Broadband Initiatives Program administered by the Rural Utilities Service. As a requirement of that program, Qwest also said it would provide $117 million toward the cost of its proposed project, which would bring broadband at speeds of 12 to 40 Mbps to rural areas throughout its 14-state region.
Who Will Defend the Rights of People of Color to an Open Internet? We Speak for Ourselves.
[Commentary] In every competition, there's a winner and a loser. The open Internet protections being debated by the Federal Communications Commission right now will determine who wins and who loses in the fight over whether big companies or regular people will control the Internet. I want everyday people to win.
It makes sense that the threat of digital redlining has some civil rights groups in the DC beltway concerned. This concern has resulted in some groups like the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC), run by David Honig, taking a position against the open Internet protections that would ensure that the Internet remains an un-gated platform for self-representation, innovation, and opportunity. What doesn't make sense is that groups like MMTC would deny that the financial relationship between them and the same media companies that are blackmailing the communities MMTC claims to represent, has an impact on their position on open Internet protections. I agree with Garlin Gilchrest II of the Center for Community Change that the undue pressure of big media on some civil rights groups like MMTC to advocate against strong open Internet protections has pushed those organizations dangerously close to unwittingly and unwillingly becoming astroturf groups. I don't understand why a group claiming to represent the interests of people of color like me would focus on us only as consumers of a commercial broadband and not as communities who deserve all the richness an open Internet has to offer.
If MMTC won't stand for the millions of people of color and poor people outside of the DC beltway, who will? Perhaps its simply time for us to speak for ourselves, and demand the strongest open Internet protections possible. Who speaks for communities of color and the poor about open Internet protections? We speak for ourselves.