(2010-03-15) Fcc National Broadband Plan

The FCC announced its National Broad Band plan. The FCC has been leaking bits and pieces of the plan to the public over the past couple of weeks. And much of what is in the final version is not surprising. For example, the plan calls for expanding the $8 billion Universal Service Fund, which provides subsidized phone service throughout the U.S., to also include broadband. The plan also calls on the FCC to make 500MHz of new WireLess spectrum available within 10 years for licensed and unlicensed use. The plan recommends that 300MHz of that spectrum should become available within the next five years. One of the most controversial issues to come out of the plan is the reallocation of wireless spectrum. While the report recommends that the FCC reallocate about 20MHz of underutilized government spectrum, it also recommends that the agency get about 120MHz of spectrum from TV broadcasters. Officials who worked on developing the plan said Monday that they hope TV broadcasters will voluntarily give up a good portion of the spectrum. The plan proposes incentives to encourage TV broadcasters in the biggest markets, where new spectrum will likely be needed first, to reauction their licenses. But TV broadcasters, who caught wind of the proposal months ago, have rallied to oppose it.... Officials said the plan is a road map. The FCC, the Obama administration, and Congress will now be tasked with taking action on the recommendations.