Industry Groups Highly Critical of FCC Broadband Report

The Federal Communications Commission caught flak from a number of industry groups for its conclusion that broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely manner.

"The FCC's 706 report discounts the significant efforts being made by the private sector -- despite uncertainty for investment stemming from a persistently weak economy and repeated attempts by the Commission to exercise greater direction and control over this inherently unpredictable yet consistently innovative sector -- to continue building out broadband infrastructure," said the Internet Innovation Alliance. "Contrary to the FCC's assertions, more government control over the telecommunications industry with new rules is absolutely not a prerequisite for closing the digital divide." The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation also took issue with the FCC. "The FCC's latest 706 Report on the progress of broadband deployment in the United States reaches the erroneous conclusion that we're not making reasonable progress toward bringing broadband networking to all Americans," the group said. Broadband for America co-chair and former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. called the FCC assessment inaccurate because it overlooked the vast private-sector investment. The report did cite that investment, but concluded it was not enough.