Seven years ago this Friday (3/17/2010), the FCC
released the National Broadband Plan that outlined ways the government can influence
the build-out of the broadband ecosystem, including ensuring robust competition
that maximized innovation and investment, efficient allocation of government
managed or owned assets to encourage network upgrades and competitive entry,
support deployment of broadband to high-cost areas and ensure its affordability
to low-income households, and reform laws and policies to maximize benefits in education,
health care, and government operations. At the time, approximately 200 million
individuals had access to broadband (4 mbps) at home. (See: https://www.fcc.gov/general/national-broadband-plan
).
In it's 2016 Broadband Progress Report, the FCC reported
that nearly 10% of Americans (34 million) still lacked access to fixed broadband
at speeds of at least 25 mbps. The
difference in the unserved percentage by market density ranged from 39% in
rural areas to “just” 4% in urban areas.
In his recent address to
Congress, President Trump reiterated a commitment to infrastructure spending. While no details were presented on broadband,
it is assumed that some federal money will be allocated and there will be
efforts to reduce regulations/laws that have limited private sector network build-outs.
Hopefully, some policy ideas will be
floated soon in order to get market reactions.
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