Google and the New America Foundation have teamed up to launch a Google Moderator page where you can submit and vote on ideas for what you think the Federal Communications Commission should include in its National Broadband Plan.
Under the terms of the recent economic stimulus package, the FCC must deliver to Congress a National Broadband Plan by February 2010. The Web site at broadband.gov, meanwhile, is intended to allow for additional feedback and will eventually include mapping data that people can use for their own analysis.
Today Google submitted to the FCC their initial thoughts for a broadband nation (pdf). Google has described four concrete proposals that they believe would help advance this vision:
- Install broadband fiber as part of every federally-funded infrastructure project. Laying fiber — or even simply installing the conduit — during the construction or repair of roads and other public works projects will dramatically reduce deployment costs.
- Deploy broadband fiber to every library, school, community health care center, and public housing facility in the United States. Low-income Americans are increasingly left out of the digital revolution. This would create community hub centers nationwide and potentially act as a springboard for more widespread broadband adoption in these communities.
- Create incentives for providers to install multiple lines of fiber as new networks are rolled out. These unused fibers could in turn be leased or sold to other network operators, increasing competition along with deployment.
- Encourage greater wireless broadband and reduce barriers to deployment. Last November, the FCC paved the way for “white spaces” spectrum to be used to deliver better and faster wireless broadband connections to American consumers. The Commission should encourage use of unlicensed devices in “white spaces” spectrum by eliminating unnecessary requirements and easing interference standards in rural areas where no actual harmful interference would occur.
In two weeks, they’ll take the most popular and most innovative ideas and submit them to the official record at the FCC on your behalf. You can view or submit your ideas here.
