The FCC is scheduled to present its National Broadband Plan next month to Congress - and the stakes could not be higher. The Chairman of the Alliance for Digital Equality - a Speed Matters partner - Julius Hollis wrote last week about the need for a measured approach to ensure all Americans have access to fast and readily accessible broadband Internet. Read More »
The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new report on America's progress in achieving universal broadband access. Conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the report found that household access to broadband jumped from 51% in 2007 to 64% in 2009. Read More »
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a report detailing census-tract data on high speed Internet service speed and availability. While the FCC has been collecting information on broadband providers since 2000, this is the first report that provides comprehensive data at a county level. The new data shows that the broadband gap even more apparent. Read More »
At last month's Digital Empowerment Summit, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proclaimed that high speed Internet availability is the civil rights issue of our time. Read More »
According to a new American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research study, "network" companies, such as AT&T and Verizon - produce more, better paying jobs than non-network companies like Google and eBay. It found that for every $1 billion in revenue, network companies provided 2,329 jobs while non-network companies provided 1,199 jobs. Read More »
The Communications Workers of America used the FCC's last request for public comment before the release of the national broadband plan to issue a public notice laying out what they consider to be top priorities for the plan. CWA's proposals include bringing U.S. networks to world-class standards by setting ambitious, but achievable goals, with an immediate goal of 10 megabits per second downstream and 1 megabit per second up; and 50 megabits down and 20 up to 80 percent of the population by 2015. Read More »
In front of an audience of social justice advocates, the FCC's Blair Levin declared that "broadband can help people get access to better jobs, better education, better health care information and improved government services" - and it can broaden equality overall. Read More »
During an appearance on C-SPAN's The Communicators, CWA President Larry Cohen proposed ambitious goals for the expansion of broadband in America. "We need to aim higher," he said during a discussion of broadband speeds, "Only significant investment in broadband buildout will enable the country to catch up to the rest of the world regarding speed and accessibility." Read More »
On January 15, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced the availability of $4.8 billion of funding for grants and loans to expand broadband access and adoption in America. This is the second round of funding that was allotted as part of the 2009 economic stimulus bill. Read More »
60 percent of American adults subscribe to broadband at home, says a new survey from the Pew Research Centers Internet and American Life Project. This figure is down from 63 percent in the April 2009 survey. Read More »
