Monday, March 21, 2011

USA - Chairman of regulator says it has a laser focus on broadband, despite distractions

[executivegov] Despite being mired in mud fights with Congress over net neutrality, the Federal Communications Commission main point of focus may well be its national broadband plan.

A National Journal report evaluating the plan’s goals against what the agency has implemented after about a year finds room for both those who tout success as well as those who discuss their doubts.

About 10 percent of the plans 200 proposals are complete, about 56 percent are “in progress” and 34 percent remain “untouched,” according to National Journal.

Factor in the 10-year timeline for reaching those goals and “that puts the FCC roughly on track,” National Journal said.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has sought to pivot from the red-hot net-neutrality debate to focus on the broadband issue, which is more likely to foster political consensus.

At a recent conference, Genachowski said the agency was “focused like a laser” on the issue, National Journal reported.

Successes include the FCC’s spectrum auctions, which leverage unused broadcast TV spectrum to bolster wireless networks as well as the E-rate program extending access to schools and libraries.

However, skeptics argue FCC is moving too slowly on its initiatives, such as a national public safety communications network and a restructuring of the Universal Service fund to bring broadband coverage to rural areas.

Genachowski: FCC ‘Focused Like a Laser’ on Broadband

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