Rep. Eshoo Praises FCC Broadband Plan

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) today praised the FCC's Nationwide Broadband Plan as "insightful, analytical and forward-thinking." The FCC is slated to consider the Plan at a Commission Meeting on Tuesday, March 16th and deliver it formally to Congress the next day.

"The FCC released aninsightful, analytical Broadband Plan that recognizes the importance ofincluding all Americans in nationwide deployment, while at the same timeemphasizing the importance of these services to our economic health," Rep.Eshoo said. "This plan will bring us back to where we should be-as the globalleader in telecommunications services."

The Broadband Plan'slong term goals include rolling out high speed service of at least 100 megabitsper second to at least 100 million U.S. households.  Other goals include making services moreaffordable and ensuring better speeds and access for anchor institutions suchas schools, libraries and hospitals.  TheFCC also recommended a free, nationwide broadband lifeline similar to the onerecommended by Rep. Eshoo during recent congressional hearings.

Rep. Eshoo has longbeen a champion of faster speeds and anchor institutions, and she specificallylauded the Commission's plan to set the bar high.

"Telecommunicationsis essential to driving our economy and creating jobs," she said.  "It can't just be for those at the upper endof the economic spectrum.  It needs to beavailable for all Americans.  We cannotafford to leave anyone behind."

 Several of themeasures outlined in the plan specifically track legislative proposalsengineered by Rep. Eshoo.  One of theproposals, to use federal funding to advance next-generation 9-1-1 call centertechnology, mirrors the bill Rep. Eshoo offered last week, H.R. 4829, the Next Generation Preservation Act of 2010.

 Another significantproposal calls for the federal government to facilitate efficient newinfrastructure construction, including "dig once" policies that would makefederal financing of highway, road and bridge projects contingent on states andlocalities permitting joint deployment of broadband infrastructure.  Rep. Eshoo drafted and is the principalsponsor of the Broadband ConduitDeployment Act of 2009, which would require federal transportation projectsto provide for broadband conduit infrastructure.

 "It's good to seethat the Commission did not reinvent the wheel, but considered all of theproposals that are already on the books," Rep. Eshoo noted.  "From Smartgrid technology to HealthInformation Technology, the FCC has considered the impact of broadband acrossthe board of every conceivable aspect of American life."

 Rep. Eshoo is amember of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which will overseeimplementation of most of the FCC's recommendations.  The Committee is expected to consider theproposals in the next few weeks.

"I look forward to athorough review of the plan and the implementation of those parts that willmost benefit the American consumer," Rep. Eshoo said.

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