Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Cloud
    • Cloud
    • IT Management
    • Networking

    FCC Says Broadband Access Lags in U.S.

    Written by

    Clint Boulton
    Published July 21, 2010
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Roughly 14 million to 24 million American citizens still lack access to broadband and prospects for deploying high-speed Internet quickly are bleak, according to a July 20 report from the Federal Communications Commission.

      The broadband dearth is particularly dire in poor or rural areas, impeding the creation of new jobs and stimulation of economic growth, the FCC said.

      The conclusion, coming days after the FCC called to put $400 million aside for rural health care broadband, was a response to Congress’ inquiry about whether broadband deployment in the United States is adequate.

      Americans will remain bereft of broadband without reform of the universal service program and changes to U.S. broadband policy that lower the cost of broadband deployment. This will prompt more broadband providers to set up shop in rural, poor and other underserved areas.

      These recommendations are outlined in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, which is designed to get broadband pipes laid down and pumping high-speed Internet data to houses and businesses in rural areas.

      Specifically, the report proposes to address such recommendations from the National Broadband Plan as:

      • Reforming the FCC’s universal service programs to support broadband through public and private partnerships.
      • Introducing spectrum for mobile broadband.
      • Reducing barriers to infrastructure investment, including delays in access to poles and rights-of-way.
      • Collecting better broadband data to assist policymakers and consumers.

      “As numerous studies show, America is behind where it needs to be on broadband to maintain its global competitiveness and drive economic growth,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in a statement.

      “Today’s report is a reminder that we must move swiftly to implement the recommendations of the National Broadband Plan.”

      The report also updates the speed standard used to determine whether households are served by broadband from 200 kilobits-per-second downstream to 4 megabits per second downstream and 1 Mbps upstream.

      This change is a reflection in the evolution of Web content from being largely text-based a decade ago to today’s Web applications, which are fat in rich media content, including audio, video and graphics.

      The FCC National Broadband Plan has the backing of most Internet companies that seek to deliver Web services and content to consumers as quickly as possible.

      Today’s users are also conducting several Google searches per day and connecting with friends on the Facebook social network, activities that both require sufficient broadband speeds to be enjoyed.

      The idea is that the more content these Websites can shuttle to users, the more advertisements the users will see, and thus the more money Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft may make.

      The FCC said four out of five people in the U.S. don’t know how fast their home Internet access is.

      Clint Boulton
      Clint Boulton

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.