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FCC Unveils National Broadband Plan with Wireless Components

Mar 15, 2010, 10:00 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Today the Federal Communications Commission released to congress its national broadband plan. The plan details how the FCC will work to bring voice and broadband internet services to as many Americans as possible. The plan includes both wireline and wireless components. On the wireless side, the FCC is formally requesting that 500MHz of spectrum be made available for wireless broadband services within 10 year's time. It wants 300MHz to be available for mobile use in five years. The FCC currently only has 50MHz of spectrum available to serve these needs. The FCC is considering incentives to convince current spectrum holders to offer their spectrum up for auction. The FCC wants there to be greater transparency in how spectrum is licensed, and also wants there to be specific allocations for unlicensed spectrum and the development of new wireless technologies. The FCC is also looking at numerous ways to decrease the cost of deploying wireless broadband services. It is looking at how infrastructure can play a role, such as access to rooftops, utility poles and other conduits for cell towers and repeaters. The FCC outlined six main goals for the broadband plan. The main goal is to provide every American with access to broadband service of 100Mbps downloads and 50Mbps uploads, whether that be via wireline or wireless. The FCC believes the U.S. should lead the world in mobile broadband, and should have the fastest, largest network. The FCC also thinks that communities, government agencies, schools and healthcare facilities should have access to 1Gbps broadband. The FCC believes that its plan is possible to achieve without any new funding from the government. It says that all the necessary funds can be collected through additional auctions of wireless spectrum licenses.

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

ecycled

Mar 15, 2010, 12:18 PM

best laid plans

the fcc at least has a plan, its a start. We'll see.

I just want to know how I get free broadband out of this? I can say I'm poor or rural, works for me.

They "believe" we should lead in broadband availability. Good luck.

SprintCC

And that illustrates the problem. Like all government programs, people are already trying to figure out how they can qualify, even if they really shouldn't.

I'm really looking forward to paying for everyone's free internet. I'm looking forward to ...
(continues)

...

muchdrama

Mar 15, 2010, 5:40 PM

lol--500 MHz?

Really? They can hardly come up with 50 MHz, now.

Jayshmay

Mar 15, 2010, 10:35 AM

Martin Cooper said more spectrum is necessary. . .

Martin Cooper said on an interview on C-SPAN recently that already existing spectrum needs to be used more efficiently. With the use of things like LTE/WiMAX, and "smart cell towers".
He said AT&T has plenty of spectrum, they just need to use it more efficiently.

If anybody wants to watch the interview here's the link. The father of the cellphone has a lot of very interesing things to say.

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2010/03/06/HP/A/30 ... »

Jayshmay

This is why it's always good to reread before posting. I'm tired. Was up til like 1am last night.

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