Movement has begun on formation a national broadband strategy, a project assigned to the FCC by Congress as part of this year’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Now, with the first round of comments on the proposed plan closed, the FCC can start hashing through myriad details, beginning at one very basic point: how to define broadband.
The definition dilemma drew dozens of responses in the 540 total comments submitted. Numerous other issues also were raised, but the FCC cannot realistically weave a national broadband program until it knows what broadband means.
Of the hundreds of filings, an estimated two-thirds came from the general public. Most of the communications industry made an appearance, too – including the Bells, several CLECs, WiMAX network operators, satellite and telecom service providers, equipment makers, Web 2.0 firms, cablecos, relevant associations and pundits – with each party addressing the usual pet subjects. For example, CLECs again pushed for reforms on several fronts: special access, forbearance, unbundling and so on. In the cable industry, pole attachment rates remain top of mind. And among almost all providers, net neutrality and network management also are of concern. But before the FCC can change existing regulations, it must deal with some underlying matters – namely, figuring out what exactly constitutes broadband.
Right now the FCC considers 768kbps to qualify as basic broadband service. That speed generally is considered fast enough to accommodate e-mail and Web site access, as well as media streaming and downloading. But a lot of communications companies are calling on the FCC to define broadband first by the network that delivers it, and then the rate at which it is delivered.
Speed the Only Factor?
Utopian Wireless Corp. is one of the companies that proposes the commission consider fixed and mobile broadband as separate entities. The Maryland-based company, headed by a former National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) director and a long-time telecom lawyer and executive, said the two types of networks “should not be considered duplicative and should be defined in terms of speed.”
“Portable/mobile nomadic broadband should be defined as having a minimum download speed of 3mbps. Fixed broadband should be defined as having a much higher minimum download speed of 20mbps. Speed is essentially what broadband means, contrary to what monopoly service providers may claim," Utopian Wireless said in its comments.
