The FCC will announce its National Broadband Plan (NBP) next week. The objective of the NBP is to provide universal broadband access as well as encourage governments and industry to use broadband in health care, education and energy efficiency programs. The FCC has provided enough information over the past year that there appears to be a consensus on what is expected.
Wire Broadband
The goal is likely to be to deliver 100 Mbps to 100 million households by 2020. Providers relying on DSL and copper for the last mile will probably have to make a significant investment to achieve 100 Mbps.
Universal Service (USF) reform
The NBP will have to include a way to fund rural broadband access. Currently the Universal Service Fund (USF) is an $8 billion program targeted on voice communication. The NBP is likely to include a 10 year transition that will gradually shift USF from voice to IP-based services.
Wireless Broadband
As I blogged previously, the NBP will likely ask the government to free up 500 MHz of spectrum by asking television spectrum holders to voluntarily sell spectrum to mobile broadband operators.
Adoption
The NBP will provide someway of providing broadband access for the poor.
National Purposes
The NBP will provide the basis for universal access for services such as health care, education, smart energy management and government programs.
To be implemented, the NBP recommendations will require congressional action as well as formal guidelines and directives from the FCC.
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