Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Anticipation Builds for FCC's National Broadband Plan to be Unveiled

In just two weeks, on March 16th, the FCC presents its National Broadband Plan. And, while I would say that anticipation is building, it's a bit like finding your parents' stash of Christmas gifts early. The FCC has started leaking details of the plan, including a promise to find 500MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband and a request for Congress to cough up $16 Billion for a public-safety network to be integrated with priority access to commercial networks--a major homeland security beef-up.

In previous years, the FCC has tried getting such a network in the hands of first responders by ear-marking it onto the sale of spectrum between 10 and 700mhz. But, since nobody wanted that string attached, the air space simply didn't sell. Just exactly how the FCC intends to bring this plan to fruition this time around remains to be seen.

I also am curious to uncover where this 500MHz of spectrum will come from. The American public surely won't endure another fiasco like the DTV switch-over. But, assuming they can pull it out of the air (pardon the pun) this certainly will open new doors for wireless broadband providers to increase their bandwidth and ultimately service more of America's public with fixed wireless broadband solutions.

Ultimately, as I've blogged numerous times already, I am overjoyed to see wireless taking such a prominent role in the FCC's plan. I think this due largely to the feedback submitted, both by the public and from the carriers. From what little I've seen "leaked" thus far, I am hopeful. I'll be counting the days to March 16th.

Labels: Broadband Plan, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband