FCC Delays National Broadband Plan

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Julius Genachowski today notified Congress that the National Broadband Plan will be delivered about a month late. (See FCC Outlines Broadband Plan 'Framework' and FCC Boots Up National Broadband Plan .)

In a letter to Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Genachowski basically said the FCC needs more time to deal with the massive amount of information collected through 50 public workshops and field hearings and a dozen public notices. Originally, the FCC was tasked with delivering the details of the plan by Feb. 17, 2010. Genechowski is now asking Rockefeller to consider accepting the final plan on March 17.

The additional month will enable the FCC to "to more fully brief commissioners and key members of Congress, to get additional input from stakeholders, and to fully digest the exhaustive record before the agency," Genachowski said.

The goal of the National Broadband Plan is to set up a regulatory framework and a strategy that encourages widespread availability, affordability, and adoption of broadband Internet access. (See FCC Outlines Broadband Plan 'Framework'.)

Incumbent ISPs, including telecom and cable service providers, have been worried that a national plan will lead to re-regulation of services not currently regulated.

— Carol Wilson, Chief Editor, Events, Light Reading

(0)  |