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The Federal Communications Commission will deliver to Congress today the long-awaited National Broadband Plan, TMC has reported, setting what the agency terms “an ambitious agenda for connecting all corners of the nation.”

 

“The 10-year plan calls for connecting 100 million households to affordable 100-megabits-per-second service, affordable access to ultra-high-speed broadband of at least 1 gigabit per second at anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, and military installations and making 500 megahertz of spectrum newly available for licensed and unlicensed use,” TMC’s Erin Harrison wrote.

 

Some in the industry back the project. Global Crossing (News - Alert) applauded the move, with company officials saying they share the FCC's goal of expanding broadband deployment.

 

'The FCC is to be commended on its thorough effort to produce the National Broadband Plan,' said John Legere, chief executive officer of Global Crossing.  'The Commission identified many important policy changes that are required to realize the vision of a broadband future.”

 

Intel, too, commended FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (News - Alert) and the FCC broadband team for the plan, saying it “has the potential to help create jobs and spur economic growth, unleash new waves of innovation and investment, improve education and health care, and enhance the vibrancy of our democracy.”

 

Intel (News - Alert) President and CEO Paul Otellini said “We believe in the transformative potential of widespread, high-quality, affordable broadband. To lead in competitiveness, innovation and job creation in the 21st century, our country must plan ahead.”

 

The Consumer Electronics Association added its voice of praise, saying the FCC needed to “work to address the spectrum crisis, competition in the marketplace for video devices and accessibility issues” as part of the National Broadband Plan.

 

“I am pleased the Commission has addressed many of the crucial broadband and spectrum issues that are critical to innovation and confronting the looming broadband crisis,” said Gary Shapiro (News - Alert), president and CEO, CEA.

 

It wasn’t unanimous kudos, though. Calling the proposal a “mixed bag,” International Broadband Electric Communications’s Alyssa Clemsen Roberts, Government Affairs Coordinator, said that “the number one goal should be providing all Americans with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet as soon as possible; the FCC's mixed-bag plan disappointedly lists that goal at third and provides itself a ten year period to reach it.  We would have hoped for a more aggressive plan.”

 

Larissa Herda, tw telecom Chairman, CEO and President, noted that “the cause and effect between expanding broadband adoption and economic growth is obvious: faster Internet connections will increase wages and decrease unemployment.” And in a statement CWA (News - Alert) Communications President Larry Cohen said the plan is “a good roadmap of the 21st Century broadband networks our nation needs for economic growth and to bring the United States up to world class standards in terms of access, speed and affordability.”