What's 'broadband'? Billions in stimulus funds are at stake

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2009-04-05-broadband-fcc_N.htm

By Leslie Cauley, USA TODAY
Congress has earmarked $7.2 billion in stimulus aid to deploy broadband in underserved parts of the USA. But what does that mean, really?

The Federal Communications Commission is trying to come up with answers. At the request of lawmakers, the agency is in the process of defining "broadband," "underserved" and other terms. The FCC is advising the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which will make the final call on how stimulus money gets doled out.

The stakes are high for consumers and, ultimately, the U.S., says Chris Murray, a senior lawyer for Consumers Union.

"If we do it right, we can connect a critical segment of the U.S. population to the knowledge economy," he says, referring to the 40 million-plus consumers living in rural and low-income areas who don't have broadband. "If we do it wrong, we'll wind up giving money to companies that don't need it and won't use it efficiently."

On March 24, the FCC began accepting suggestions from the public about how to define broadband and four other terms: "unserved," "underserved," "non-discrimination" and "interconnection." (The last two relate to broadband networks.) Comments are due April 13.

Opinions about what constitutes "broadband" vary wildly. Big incumbents such as AT&T favor a tiered approach to the speed of data delivery, starting at a minimum of 200 kilobits per second. Tech giants such as Intel say 100 megabits is more reasonable, given the explosion of bandwidth-hogging applications such as video streaming.

Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps says the agency is up to the challenge.

FULL story at link.

[msongs]

1. broadband should be a public utility not some corporate scummers like ATT nt

[jwirr]

2. Underserved areas? Broadband is just around the corner from my

daughter, within half a mile. Quest will not bring it to her because the line must come from the other way - about 5 miles away through long areas that have no homes/businesses. So they are waiting and they are told that it cannot be changed. So much for the deadline that all would have access in a reasonable time.

[Mnpaul]

3. My small town

will get fiber optic broadband due to the stimulus plan. There was a plan on the book to install a fiber optic look to connect all the local government offices. Now the plan has been expanded and an outside company is coming in to sell the service to everyone.