Let’s make college more affordable, and let’s invest in scientific research, and let’s lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America.”
– Barack Obama, February 10, 2007
At least $3 billion is almost certainly headed for broadband build-out for rural and hard-to-serve areas, reports ZDNet. Wireless broadband grants would comprise $1 billion of that funding level. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to include the grants as part of the $825 billion stimulus package. The grants add an “open access” requirement for wireless carriers and ISPs. The House Agriculture Committee will consider another $3 billion for broadband to rural areas.
Public interest groups are pushing for specific proposals that would reduce prices for users and create programs for training and access, reports the Washington Post.
According to a report released yesterday (pdf) by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, about one-third of Americans not currently using broadband still wouldn’t because of the expense. About 13 percent of non-users said they don’t use the Internet or e-mail because they can’t access broadband. Nine percent of those surveyed said they find e-mail and the Internet too difficult to use, 7 percent said they are too busy or don’t have time, and 4 percent said they don’t have access to a computer.
For those with dial-up Internet access, 35 percent said prices for broadband — which average $34.50 a month — would have to go down for them to upgrade to high-speed cable, fiber-optic, or DSL Internet service, according to the survey.
“The problem with price has to do with competition,” said Andrew Schwartzman, president of public access group Media Access Project. Schwartzman said that users are typically forced to choose between two to three options for high-speed Internet service.
The nonprofit group One Economy has urged lawmakers to include provisions in a stimulus plan that would renovate public housing so that all units in a building would have access to a shared data network, thereby reducing monthly costs per home by several dollars a month.
Rey Ramsey (video), chief executive of One Economy, said prices of about $10 or less per month is the threshold for greater adoption.
“My biggest concern is that we not only focus on access, but we also focus on affordability and adoption,” Ramsey said.
Meraki announced last week that it’s working with OneEconomy to deliver affordable broadband to low-income housing. Using Meraki’s technology, OneEconomy plans to deliver affordable broadband via Wi-Fi to more than 100,000 families in the U.S. (pdf) over the next two years. Meraki and OneEconomy will launch their partnership at San Francisco’s largest housing development, which has more than 2,200 residents, reports C/Net. AT&T is providing the DSL service.
Last week at CES, Intel chairman Craig Barrett said that Intel would advise the new administration to focus on wireless broadband and WiMAX. Intel CTO Justin Ratner plans to write to the new US CTO with results of a survey Intel is conducting. The nation’s first Chief Technology Officer has yet to be named.
A 2B$ proposal by Sprint Nextel for nation-wide wireless for first responders would support wireless communication to scenes of need within 4 hours. Satellite trucks and large complements of handsets would be dispatched from some 40 sites across the country.
Under incoming FCC Chair candidate Julius Genachowski, there may be a re-think of the failed 700 MHz D-Block auction. That coupled with the 6B$ commitment to improve broadband connectivity could create a real opportunity for nationwide emergency communications as well as serving a stimulus to the economy with public/private partnerships.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has been designated by President Barack Obama to serve as acting FCC Chair. The interim appointment, announced today, follows the Jan. 20 resignation of Republican Kevin Martin.
The Whitehouse.gov agenda for technology includes:
- Ensure the Full and Free Exchange of Ideas through an Open Internet and Diverse Media Outlets
- Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy
- Deploy a Modern Communications Infrastructure
- Improve America’s Competitiveness
- Prepare All our Children for the 21st Century Economy
- Prepare Adults for a Changing Economy
- Employ Science, Technology and Innovation to Solve Our Nation’s Most Pressing Problems
