US outlines national broadband plan

The US telecoms regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has this week finally submitted its national broadband plan (NBP) to the US Congress.
The NBP is an action plan to increase nationwide broadband coverage.
The plan has been eagerly…

The US telecoms regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has this week finally submitted its national broadband plan (NBP) to the US Congress.

The NBP is an action plan to increase nationwide broadband coverage.

The plan has been eagerly awaited for some time and was part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act set up in early 2009, which was put together by a sizable task force following public hearings.

The NBP has eight key aims for the future, including the connection of 100 million households to affordable 100Mbps services, which would make the US the largest high speed broadband use market. Under the plan, 500MHz of spectrum for licensed and unlicensed use would be freed up and the target is to increase broadband penetration from the current 65% to 90%.

The plan also aims to ensure that all children in the country are digitally literate when they graduate and that all communities have access to ultra high speed broadband of at least 1Gbps via military buildings, hospitals and schools. The NBP also aims to set up a nationwide wireless interoperable network that who improve national safety.

With its new broadband plan, the FCC also hopes to increase competition by promoting greater transparency across price, speed and availability. In addition, it seeks to provide affordable broadband to more rural communities, libraries and schools.