National Broadband Plan

Over the past few years, many have argued the importance of improved high-speed Internet access via broadband technology. The term "digital divide" has come to refer to the separation between those who have high-speed Internet access (such as those in urban areas) and those that don't (such as those in rural areas). This has prompted questions as to whether government should intervene in the broadband market to rectify access disparities. The Congressional Research Service summarizes the debate in this report on the issue (PDF):

Broadband technologies are currently being deployed primarily by the private sector throughout the United States. While the numbers of new broadband subscribers continue to grow, studies and data suggest that the rate of broadband deployment in urban and high income areas are outpacing deployment in rural and low-income areas. Some policymakers, believing that disparities in broadband access across American society could have adverse economic and social consequences on those left behind, assert that the federal government should play a more active role to avoid a “digital divide” in broadband access.

Further, many advanced European and East Asian countries, most notably South Korea, have invested heavily in their national broadband infrastructures, raising additional questions about American competitiveness.

In response to these issues, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday released the National Broadband Plan. At nearly 400 pages, the full plan addresses a wide array of relevant issues related to Internet policy, including economic growth, national security, disaster preparedness, environmental impacts, and civic engagement. The FCC outlined the basic principles of the plan in the executive summary:

1. Design policies to ensure robust competition and, as a result maximize consumer welfare, innovation and investment.
2. Ensure efficient allocation and management of assets government controls or influences, such as spectrum, poles, and rights-of-way, to encourage network upgrades and competitive entry.
3. Reform current universal service mechanisms to support deployment of broadband and voice in high-cost areas; and ensure that low-income Americans can afford broadband; and in addition, support efforts to boost adoption and utilization.
4. Reform laws, policies, standards and incentives to maximize the benefits of broadband in sectors government influences significantly, such as public education, health care and government operations.

The report is likely to generate significant debate in the coming weeks and months. The plan can be downloaded in full or by specific chapter via the FCC's website here. It's an excellent resource for students studying the social, economic, and political implications of information technology and digital policy.