The General Accounting Office has told the FCC that the Commission’s goals for the National Broadband Plan are laudable, but meeting them will be a challenge (PDF, 49 pages).
“Action will be required by governments at all levels and the private sector to deploy broadband infrastructure to the last 5 percent of households at a reasonable cost and to promote broadband usage and adoption by increasing digital literacy and making broadband services more affordable for certain populations, especially the elderly and the economically disadvantaged,” the report said.
Much is dependent on how effectively federal agencies and the private sector will be able to co-operate, say observers.
The U.S. currently ranks 15th for both deployment and adoption of broadband in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development list. Out of the seven countries the GAO studied, it was found that the governments provided funds and public and private partnerships to promote the network.
The public-private domain cooperation might be difficult as the FCC is trying to implement ‘net neutrality’ rules to govern broadband service providers. The proposed policy is being opposed by many big broadband providers. The National Broadband plan also requires broadcasters to give up some spectrum for wireless broadband access.
Related Dailywireless articles include; Net Neutrality Legislation Dead, Why Cops Don’t Just Use Cell Phones, Riot in D Block, FCC Okays 21 Public Service Nets, FCC: Stop Complaining about Interoperability, The 700MHz Network: Who Pays?, The National Broadband Plan, National Broadband Plan Previewed, TerreStar Phones Home, New York Cancels Statewide Wireless Network, Oregon’s Statewide Wireless Network $100M Over Budget.`
