FCC Re-ups Technical Advisory Council

Effective June 10th, 2011 the Federal Communications Commission's Technical Advisory Council (TAC) will be reestablished for a period of two years. The Council, comprised of a diverse array of leading technical experts, helps to provide the technical expertise the Commission needs to identify important areas of innovation and develop informed technology policies supporting America’s competitiveness in the global economy. The TAC is helping the Commission to continue the momentum of ideas and recommendations in the National Broadband Plan, such as how broadband communications can be part of the solution for the delivery and cost containment of health care, for energy and environmental conservation, for education innovation and in the creation of jobs.

On April 25th, 2011, the TAC publicly released a set of eight near term recommendations to the Commission focused on opportunities to promote innovation and further broadband deployment. These recommendations included among others; identifying cities exemplifying “best practices” in broadband deployment, facilitating the use of federal lands for broadband infrastructure deployment, establishing quality measures for broadband deployment, and facilitating coordination of access to buried infrastructure. In addition, other ideas were targeted for further development on subjects including broadband deployment, the transition to IPv6, infrastructure sharing opportunities and critical technology transitions.

Tom Wheeler, Managing Director, Core Capital Partners, serves as Chairman of the Council. Walter Johnston, Chief of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Division, serves as the Designated Federal Officer. Julius Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology is the Alternate Designated Federal Officer.