The FCC’s National Broadband Plan should empower broadband efforts by municipalities, said the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and other local government authorities, responding to the FCC’s seventh public notice for the plan, on the roles of federal, state, tribal and local government. Other commenters compared municipal broadband to city electric systems built decades ago. But Qwest and some rural carriers warned that public-owned networks could impede broadband deployment in many areas.
Tribal lands still lack basic telephone service, nearly 10 years after former FCC Chairman William Kennard created the Enhanced Lifeline program to extend the access, Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., told the commission in a letter. “It is clear that the Commission’s policies have failed too many people on Tribal lands,” he said. “This situation requires your urgent attention.” Udall said continued management of the $7 billion universal service program “misses the mark” if it can’t provide basic phone service to everyone in the U.S. The coming broadband plan “could be received with skepticism” if it doesn’t provide a way to ensure basic phone service for all, Udall said, asking the FCC for a plan of action.
The FCC seeks “targeted comment” on the effects of broadband on public safety for rural and tribal areas and on people with disabilities. In its 14th public notice for the National Broadband Plan, the commission said it recognized that “broadband may face different challenges and serve different needs in more rural and tribal areas than in other parts of the country.” And promoting broadband for the disabled “involves unique considerations,” it added. Comments are due Dec. 1.
The departments of Housing and Urban Development and Homeland Security launched a Web site with one of longest Web addresses in the federal government. DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov will solicit public comments from state, local and tribal partners and the public to advise the newly-formed Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group, chaired by the secretaries of each department and including officials from more than 20 departments, agencies and offices. The group will “articulate objectives for recovery assistance going forward, identify examples of best practices, raise challenges and obstacles to success, and share thoughts, experiences and lessons learned,” the departments said Wednesday.
A Bresnan Communications proposal to deliver broadband to the seven Indian reservations in Montana deserves full funding and highest priority, Gov. Brian Schweitzer told the NTIA. In an Oct. 14 letter, Schweitzer said his administration has worked with the company since 2005 on the broadband model, which has the endorsement of all seven tribal organizations. In recommending 13 second-tier proposals, Schweitzer stressed that they should be underwritten only if the cable operator’s proposal gets full funding. Schweitzer said the state disregarded proposals whose sponsors didn’t respond to requests for more information on which to base its assessment.
Ranking infrastructure proposals for broadband stimulus funding, Arizona’s broadband review committee gave highest priority to a middle-mile plan by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, urging that it receive “exception consideration.” The reviewers want “outstanding consideration” given middle- mile proposals by a collaboration of Triplet Mountain and San Carlos Apache Telecom and one from Pac Tex Communications, they told the NTIA. The state committee labeled as deserving “exceptional consideration” last-mile plans by Smith Bagley, Inc., Towerstream I and Wecom. “Outstanding consideration” should go to last-mile plans by Wi-Vod for the Pinal area and northern Arizona, it said. Reviewers deemed “deserving of consideration” proposals by Aztech Cable, NPG Cable for greater Munds Park and greater Pine/Strawberry, REW Networks AZ and Castillo Technologies for greater Holbrook and Joseph City and Castillo Technologies for the Eager/Springerville area. A community-center grant proposal by the State Library Archives and Public Records division should get “exceptional consideration,” the committee said. It urged “outstanding consideration” for plans by the Maricopa County Library District and Mission Economic Development Agency on behalf of AZ Chicanos Por La Causa. A Tohono O'Odham Utility Authority proposal for a sustainable adoption grant should get “exceptional consideration,” the reviewers said. They sought “outstanding” consideration for a plan by WildBlue Communications. Sustainable adoption plans by CHC-TV and Broadband for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing deserve consideration, too, they said.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski turned the commission’s focus to how broadband can help the government deal with poverty and other social ills. At a San Diego public forum held Thursday to help the commission develop the National Broadband Plan, speakers also debated the merits of unlicensed versus licensed spectrum. Genachowski was joined by Commissioner Meredith Baker.
States are busy trying to meet an Oct. 14 NTIA deadline to complete reviews of applications for broadband-stimulus grants and loans. Florida and Oklahoma officials said the deadline has reviewers scrambling - and some worrying that their work may be for nought.
The FCC wants comment on how federal, state, tribal and local governments promote broadband deployment and adoption. In the latest rulemaking notice related to the national broadband plan, the commission said it has heard about “difficulties in obtaining required government licenses or permits or access to government assets, as well as restrictions in the use of government funding that hinder the pursuit of broader broadband goals.” The FCC also sought comment on “how digital technologies and broadband deployment can improve civic engagement, government at all levels, and the lives and welfare of residents and businesses.” Comments are due Nov. 6.
The FCC wants comment on how federal, state, tribal and local governments promote broadband deployment and adoption. In the latest rulemaking notice related to the national broadband plan, the commission said it has heard about “difficulties in obtaining required government licenses or permits or access to government assets, as well as restrictions in the use of government funding that hinder the pursuit of broader broadband goals.” The FCC also sought comment on “how digital technologies and broadband deployment can improve civic engagement, government at all levels, and the lives and welfare of residents and businesses.” Comments are due Nov. 6.