FCC Explains Relationship of Ideascale Postings to the Record in the National Broadband Plan Proceeding

The Federal Communications Commission launched an idea collaboration platform to allow public feedback, comment, and discussion that will help the FCC in developing the best possible National Broadband Plan. In creating this forum, the FCC recognizes the need to reconcile such innovative use of the Internet in communicating with the government with the more traditional requirement of creating an administrative record, (i) to give interested parties notice of other parties' comments, and (ii) to allow the Commission to address significant issues. Postings on the collaboration platform are also deemed to be part of the same public record. For this reason, interested persons are advised to review not only FCC's electronic filing system, but also the collaboration platform to ensure that they are aware of all relevant views expressed to the FCC concerning the National Broadband Plan. But the postings on the collaboration platform do not have to be submitted to the Commission's Secretary for inclusion in the public record.