Genachowksi: Focus On The Unserved [Multichannel News]
FCC Chairman-designate Julius Genachowsk is inching closer to confirmation as his nomination was given the thumbs-up in the Senate Commerce Committee last week. He is expected to get quick approval from the entire Senate fairly soon. During his testimony to the committee Genachowski talked about the FCC's national broadband plan and how he would like to see the agency advise the federal agencies responsible for the broadband stimulus grants. Genachowski displayed a strong dose of common sense when he indicated a preference that the FCC focus on getting broadband service to those in unserved areas - those without access to any broadband Internet service.
Though the guidelines for the federal broadband stimulus haven't been released yet, the economic stimulus act contemplates grants being awarded to "underserved areas" in addition to unserved areas. While its easy to define what unserved means, "underserved" has a much more nebulous definition. I completely agree with Chairman-designate Genachowski who sees the wisdom in focusing spending the broadband stimulous money first for those without access to broadband service. Like the electrification of rural America nearly 100 years ago,money will be well spent in areas where there isn't a business case for broadband providers, where there is a natural role for the federal government to play in getting every American connected to the Internet via a fast connection.
The FCC is set to release a national broadband plan next February under Genachowski's leadership.
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