Difference between revisions of "National Broadband Plan"

Revision as of 15:51, 15 July 2009

Civic Participation and Broadband

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission was required by Congress in the stimulus package to develop a National Broadband Plan. How broadband can advance "civic participation" is the second item in the list passed by Congress and signed by the President. Very exciting. This is the first time the U.S. government has committed to advancing "civic participation" without getting stuck on one-way government service delivery.

Let's use this wiki page to gather links related to civic participation and broadband. For discussion, consider using the US Democracy Online Exchange.

From H.R. 1: Final Stimulus Version it specifically mentions:

• D) a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, ...

Also, on the US Democracy Online Exchange, the announcement of this wiki generated a reply from Harvard's Berkman Center that they are helping the FCC with a review of literature and studies. Berkman is now an additional audience for this wiki.

Plan Resources - Related to Civic Participation and the Internet

Please add links to specific resources you think those who are drafting this section of the report should read as they prepare the "civic participation" section of the report.

• Sidewalks for Democracy Online - Chapter from Rebooting Democracy by Steven Clift
• Ten Practical Online Steps for Government Support of Democracy and dozens of other articles on this topic by Steven Clift

* Add more here

Links to National Broadband Plans from Other Nations and U.S. States

Let's gather links to profile plans. Once gathered someone should upload them into a tool like Mixed Ink to jump start the process.

• Digital Britain Report - Released June 2009
• Australia's Digital Economy: Future Directions - Released July 2009
• Malaysia National Broadband Plan

Stimulus Text

The full text of the section:

• (2) The national broadband plan required by this section shall seek to ensure that all people of the United States have access to broadband capability and shall establish benchmarks for meeting that goal. The plan shall also include— (A) an analysis of the most effective and efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access by all people of the United States; (B) a detailed strategy for achieving affordability of such service and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and service by the public; (C) an evaluation of the status of deployment of broadband service, including progress of projects supported by the grants made pursuant to this section; and (D) a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes. (3) In developing the plan, the Commission shall have access to data provided to other Government agencies under the Broadband Data Improvement Act (47 U.S.C. 1301 note).