The FCC offered a handy guide to its National Broadband Plan [pdf, 11.5MB, 376 pages] by way of a series of tweets. For your handy reference, here is what they said about each chapter, with links to the online version of each chapter:
- Chapter 1: It is time to connect America anew. Broadband is today’s great infrastructure challenge. We seek access for all
- Chapter 2: Goals: 100m homes w/ 100mbps; lead in mobile; affordable access; civic 1gbps; public safety network; lead in energy
- Chapter 3: Ecosystem is a cycle: apps & content drive devices drive network services. Many strong points, but can do better
- Chapter 4: Spur competition with spectrum release. Empower consumers with broadband performance labeling, like nutrition info
- Chapter 5: Spectrum: the great enabler. For mobile the need is unmistakable. Think 10 years ahead. Reform allocation system
- Chapter 6: Providers build networks on public lands. Improve utilization of existing infrastructure. Foster further deployment
- Chapter 7: Invest in R&D, long & short term. Use tax credits. Fund 1 Gbps testbeds on military bases. Urge experimentation
- Chapter 8: 2020 universalization target: 4mbps actual. Review every 4 years. Improve USF, form Connect America & Mobility Fund
- Chapter 9: Adoption:Pursue affordability. Consider free wireless. Launch Digital Literacy Corps. Make Web relevant, accessible
- Chapter 10: Healthcare: Incentivize e-care. Get better data & give patients control over it. Get centers connected
- Chapter 11: Education:Develop, broaden online learning; open content. Make use of data. Bolster e-rate for schools & libraries
- Chapter 12: Energy: Integrate broadband into the Smart Grid. Provide access to digital data; will result in lower consumption
- Chapter 13: Economic Opportunity: Small businesses should harness the Web. Promote virtual job training & placement, telework
- Chapter 14: Government Performance: Improve service delivery. Prioritize efficiency. Use government as a broadband anchor
- Chapter 15: Civic Engagement: Advance an open & transparent government. Utilize social media. Innovate. Modernize democracy
- Chapter 16: Public Safety: Create a public safety wireless network. Ensure cyber security. Roll out next-gen 911 and alerts
- Chapter 17: Plan will always be in beta. Establish a Strategy Council, a timetable for proceedings and a Performance Dashboard
More tomorrow – including relevance to Canada.