FCC Broadband Plan - Broadband for everyone within the U.S. (or at least an attempt) - Hardware & Software

[highlight]FCC NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN FOR THE UNITED STATES THREAD[/highlight] [quote]The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. The FCC is currently working in coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to perform the FCC’s role under the Recovery Act. Specifically, in conjunction with the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program established by the Act, the FCC has been tasked with creating a National Broadband Plan by February 17, 2010. The Recovery Act states that the National Broadband Plan shall seek to ensure all people of the United States have access to broadband capability and shall establish benchmarks for meeting that goal.[/quote] Basically, the FCC, as part of 2009's Stimulus/Recovery act, is going t trying to get broadband internet access available to everyone within the United States and stamp out what's left of dial-up internet access. While broadband will be available on DSL, Cable, Satellite, etc., BPL (Broadband over PowerLine) has "significant potential" for usage in the FCC's plan. The FCC is also looking into using unused frequencies that TV stations are capable of and using them for broadband access. [b]INFORMATION + FAQ COURTESY OF [url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/191525/fcc_broadband_plan_faq.html]PC WORLD[/url]:[/b] [quote]We'll get a preview of the future of Internet access proposed by the U.S. Federal Commmunications Commission, which will detail its National Broadband Plan Tuesday in an open meeting before formally presenting the plan to Congress on Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the FCC's Washington, D.C. headquarters. But if you can't make it to Washington, you can watch it live online at fcc.gov/live. Congress gave the FCC a mandate early last year to develop a broadband plan as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Its goal: to improve high-speed Internet access for millions of Americans. Even though the plan is not yet public, key portions of what the FCC plans have come out in public speeches by FCC officials in recent weeks. Here's what we know so far: [b]Q:[/b] What are the main points of the FCC's nationwide broadband plan? [b]A:[/b] The centerpiece of the FCC's plan is the "100 Squared Initiative:" a goal of implementing 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) broadband connections in 100 million American households by 2020. The U.S. has an estimated 114 million households today. The FCC also wants to make 500MHz of wireless spectrum (over the air frequencies) available to mobile carriers. This will enable wireless companies to provide more data-intensive applications to mobile handsets. The move is recommended because the FCC because an impending wireless spectrum shortage could limit broadband and economic growth. [b]Q:[/b] What are the benefits of faster broadband? [b]A:[/b] The FCC says faster broadband will allow innovation in the classroom, in health care and energy services; and promote public safety, democracy and small business opportunity. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski often promotes high-speed broadband, promoting such uses as remote doctor-patient counseling for rural communities, a smart energy grid that lets a home appliance regulate power consumption, new innovations in classroom learning including online tutoring and access to up-to-date e-textbooks. Opportunities for businesses could be equally promising. Faster broadband can serve as a platform for new Web-based applications and services delivered from large corporations, small businesses, and startups working out of a garage. [b]Q:[/b] How will the FCC find another 500MHz of spectrum? [b]A:[/b] Some government agencies, like the Department of Defense, control large amounts of spectrum for their own purposes. These agencies are unlikely to release much of their airwaves, so the FCC wants to ask television stations across the country to give up their unused spectrum and make it available at auction for the wireless companies. The FCC and the television stations would then share the auction proceeds. [b]Q:[/b] How much spectrum do TV stations have? [b]A:[/b] Television stations have about 300MHz worth of spectrum, but in some cases these stations use as little as 36Mhz, according to Genachowski. However, the television companies already gave up 100Mhz worth of spectrum after the switch to digital television in early 2009. The National Association of Broadcasters opposes giving up more spectrum, because the NAB believes further reallocation would hurt over-the-air programming. "Any spectrum reallocation proposal that would leave consumers without access to broadcast services upon which they rely, and that would strand the very significant investments made by consumers, the government and broadcasters to transition to all-digital television broadcasting, is contrary to the public interest," the NAB said in a statement on spectrum management. NAB members also want to use the spectrum they do have to expand offerings such as high-definition, multicast, and mobile digital television programming. [b]Q:[/b] How much will the broadband plan cost? [b]A:[/b] The FCC is proposing that Congress allocate the Universal Service Fund (USF) to broadband deployment over a ten-year period. The USF was created to meet the goals of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which included nationwide universal access to telecommunications services. The USF spends about $4.6 billion a year to meet this goal. The FCC also wants Congress to authorize $9 billion over three years to speed up broadband deployment. The agency also is expected to ask Congress to authorize another $12 to $16 billion for a nationwide broadband network for emergency services personnel. This would allow first responders to communicate with other agencies more quickly and effectively in the event of local or national crises. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has already set aside $7.2 billion for nationwide broadband deployment, and current estimates put the total cost of the FCC's nationwide broadband plan between $20 and $350 billion -- an enormous spread. [b]Q:[/b] Are other countries doing this? [b]A:[/b] Yes, many countries are already way ahead of the United States in terms of broadband speeds and availability. South Korea, for example, boasts an average broadband speed of 43.3 Mbps, according to a 2008 report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). But, dissatisfied with those speeds, the South Koreans in February 2009 announced an ambitious goal to introduce 1 Gigabit-per-second broadband by 2013. Other countries also boast impressive broadband speeds, according to the OECD. France, for example, averages speed of 43.3 Mbps and the Japanese enjoy speeds of 93.7 Mbps. The United States broadband speeds hover around 9 Mbps; however, keep in mind that broadband speeds in urban areas tend to be much higher.[/quote] [b]SITES:[/b] Official Broadband Plan Website - [url]http://www.broadband.gov/index.html[/url] FCC Live Feed Open Meeting about Plan (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time) - [url]http://reboot.fcc.gov/live/[/url] Documents and Other stuff about the Plan - [url]http://www.fcc.gov/recovery/broadband/[/url] FCC Website - [url]http://www.fcc.gov/[/url]

Sooo ... many ... buzzwords

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;20764256]Sooo ... many ... buzzwords[/QUOTE] Simplistically, the FCC is just trying to get Broadband Internet access available throughout the U.S., even in more rural areas. Dial-up in the U.S. will probably completely die off.

[QUOTE=Aurora93;20766303]Simplistically, the FCC is just trying to get Broadband Internet access available throughout the U.S., even in more rural areas. Dial-up in the U.S. will probably completely die off.[/QUOTE] About time. I can't imagine what it would be like to be stuck on dial-up. Hopefully this will pass through so people in more rural areas can finally get some decent internet.

Hrm. Wait, so 100 Mb/s is GOOD? Meh. I'm still sad over randomly losing my 1 Gbp/s out of nowhere. I wonder how this will effect the companies that are selling that level of service right now?

[QUOTE=Lol Steve;20766455]Hrm. Wait, so 100 Mb/s is GOOD? Meh. I'm still sad over randomly losing my 1 Gbp/s out of nowhere. I wonder how this will effect the companies that are selling that level of service right now?[/QUOTE] They'll still sell it. Most likely the providers will provide basic broadband internet access that is 1-10 MB/s. You might consider this slow, but it's still hell of a lot better than having Dial-up or no internet at all.

Finland already considers broadband internet access a civil right. You lose.

[QUOTE=Virtanen;20766803]Finland already considers broadband internet access a civil right. You lose.[/QUOTE] Well, excuse me, the U.S.'s population is about 58 times that of Finland. I think achieving broadband internet access for everyone is going to be a bit harder to accomplish.

[QUOTE=Lol Steve;20766455]Hrm. Wait, so 100 Mb/s is GOOD? Meh. I'm still sad over randomly losing my 1 Gbp/s out of nowhere. I wonder how this will effect the companies that are selling that level of service right now?[/QUOTE] No, in the US 10 mbps is good. 100 mbps is awesome. [url]http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/01/us-broadband-still-lagging-in-speed-and-penetration.ars[/url]

[QUOTE=Roast Beast;20768143]No, in the US 10 mbps is good. 100 mbps is awesome. [url]http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/01/us-broadband-still-lagging-in-speed-and-penetration.ars[/url][/QUOTE] Damn. Now I feel like crying over the 1 Gb/s I didn't even realize I had until I got this computer, and then lost like a month to a week ago. o_o

[URL=http://www.speedtest.net][IMG]http://www.speedtest.net/result/749948849.png[/IMG][/URL] That's my current connection set up. 100mb/s is more than welcome.

[QUOTE=Lol Steve;20768231]Damn. Now I feel like crying over the 1 Gb/s I didn't even realize I had until I got this computer, and then lost like a month to a week ago. o_o[/QUOTE] How did you lose it?

fuck I have 3megabit hurry up FCC i want better internet

Hopefully this plan will work. I'm fine with my 16megabit for now though. 100 would be nice, however.

The more people that use the internet the slower it will get, and the more expensive.

[QUOTE=Aurora93;20766303]Simplistically, the FCC is just trying to get Broadband Internet access available throughout the U.S., even in more rural areas. Dial-up in the U.S. will probably completely die off.[/QUOTE] It's about time, and only about 10 years late.

I have 4Mb/s down and 1 up and im OK...

I have 20Mb/s down and 6 up and im OK...

Now all they have to do is hurry up and get it down here. I live next to a base where they do damn research for all kinds of crap and we don't have anything above 768 Kb/s. We could have fiber but Verizons going nope. Literally, right across the street there's fiber. On my street however, nope. Than Verizon has about fifty million commercials going, GET FIBER.

[QUOTE=Dr. Freeman;20769128]The more people that use the internet the slower it will get, and the more expensive.[/QUOTE] No exactly the opposite because the more people who use it the faster the infrastructure becomes and more people able to host leveling the work load of the internet.

Just 20mbit minimum to rural areas would bee fine enough. I don't see the country folk really needing a gigabit fiber connection. Also, you can't kill dial-up. It's one of the most fail-safe connection methods around.

[URL=http://www.speedtest.net][IMG]http://www.speedtest.net/result/750059843.png[/IMG][/URL] I'd be incredibly happy with something better... I [I]can[/I] get higher internet speeds if I switched to Roadrunner, but that costs more and has a bandwidth cap.

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;20766372]About time. I can't imagine what it would be like to be stuck on dial-up[/QUOTE] IT HURTS. :( Thank god they're doing this. Maybe we'll FINALLY get some High-speed internet out here.

[QUOTE=sbradford26;20768445]How did you lose it?[/QUOTE] Came as easily as it went. Maybe it was a false positive and this computer read it strangely, but it read as 1 Gb/s. Then it didn't. No rhyme or reason. Wow, this thread makes me appreciate my net much more. Puts it in perspective. Also, if that 30 and whatnot is by 100 Mb/s then I'm in good shape and ping is what has messed with me on testing. Closest one gives 96 ping.

[QUOTE=pentium;20770846]Just 20mbit minimum to rural areas would bee fine enough. I don't see the country folk really needing a gigabit fiber connection. Also, you can't kill dial-up. It's one of the most fail-safe connection methods around.[/QUOTE] 20 Mb? That's pretty generous. My grandparent's have only 500Kb with satellite. And the latency is through the roof (1000 ms is normal).

What is sad is while we're doing this, other countries like south Korea and japan have the fastest internet speeds in the world. In SK the average internet speed is 60MB/s and costs 20-30 USD a month. Japans speeds are very similar. But people in the U.S pay upwards 99.00 USD for standard cable 10-20mb/s. It's fucking horrible to be honest, most people use DSL and dial up. It is sad that America often defines itself on having the latest and greatest technologies, but yet we can't even get internet down. I mean the internet was created in America. Most of the blame can go to the companies/isps they're to busy cashing on high rates. Plus they're to fucking lazy to install the lines for it. They're holding us back really.

[QUOTE=Teh Zip File;20771252][URL=http://www.speedtest.net][IMG]http://www.speedtest.net/result/750059843.png[/IMG][/URL] I'd be incredibly happy with something better... I [I]can[/I] get higher internet speeds if I switched to Roadrunner, but that costs more and has a bandwidth cap.[/QUOTE] Roadrunner has a bandwidth cap? I never knew. I live in Ohio though, so things are probably different. Last time I checked, I have unlimited bandwidth.

[QUOTE=Roast Beast;20768143]No, in the US 10 mbps is good. 100 mbps is awesome. [url]http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/01/us-broadband-still-lagging-in-speed-and-penetration.ars[/url][/QUOTE] Holy shit, New Hampshire is number 2. Would never have guessed.

[QUOTE=FFStudios;20772352]Holy shit, New Hampshire is number 2. Would never have guessed.[/QUOTE] Speaking of which, how is Hawaii #7? That's pretty bad considering a state comprised of an isolated group of islands has a better average internet connection than a majority of the US.

[QUOTE=Demache;20772413]Speaking of which, how is Hawaii #7? That's pretty bad considering a state comprised of an isolated group of islands has a better average internet connection than a majority of the US.[/QUOTE] They are small though so it is easy to set up and mantain.