(Thumbnail image: Forbes)

As the FCC releases its plan to provide every American with a broadband connection by 2020, many are wondering if the plan will actually succeed, and if it does, at what costs? 

 

We've got perspectives from CNN, HLN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal and others. 


According to BBC News, the FCC's plan will require a whopping $350 billion by 2020 and where that money will come from is uncertain. But former FCC Chair Michael Powell says the public benefit from having broadband is too great to ignore. 


"I think number one, entertainment is often a driver. To have full-motion, high-quality video is a strong experience that many consumers subscribe to. But coincidentally, If you get that kind of high quality video bandwidth you can also send your MRI's to your doctor. ... So while there are playful uses of that increased capacity, there really are critical life enhancing functions to that capability as well." (CNN)

 

HLN's Jennifer Westhoven reiterates that although Internet is all too American, we're far behind our foreign counterparts. 

 

"The White House says this is really about jobs in some ways. The White House has said that even though the internet was invented in this country. We have slipped. We're like number 18 when it comes to how connected we are. Meaning, in other countries, people get the internet a lot faster, and it's cheaper for them too!" 

 

Gerald Levin, former CEO of Time Warner, tells CNBC's Squawk Box the FCC is not aiming too high, but broadcasters are going to have to make drastic changes. 

 

"One third of the country doesn't have broadband and our speeds do not compare favorably. So, I think the aspirations are not too high. And the people that are going to get hit the hardest I think are not the Verizons or the cable companies. I think it's the broadcasters because they're going to auction off some spectrum that broadcasters thought they had." 

 

A reporter for the Wall Street Journal agrees, saying the plan leaves many broadcasters less than excited about it. 

 

"It's a little bit unclear how much authority the FCC really has on this and I think at least the broadcasters say this would require an act of Congress. What the broadcasters are really worried about is that the FCC might move from 'we're asking the TV companies to give back some spectrum,' to, 'we're forcing the TV companies to give back spectrum.'" 

On broadcastlawblog.com, a reporter says that broadcasters fresh off last summer's change from analog to digital aren't ready to give up any more spectrum. 

 

"… it has been less than a year since the digital transition was completed, hardly providing broadcasters with the time to fully utilize the spectrum or for the industry to capitalize on the enhanced opportunities afforded by the digital transition."

 

But Federalcomputerweek.com says not to panic yet. The FCC's plan will probably change many times and in many ways before it's actually approved. 


"It’s going to be many months, if not years, before we see just where this plan leads. Between here and there lie many pit stops, potholes, re-evaluations and outright negativity that will delay, hijack and perhaps re-direct the whole thing."

 

 

Writer: Victoria Uwumarogie

 

Sci/Health News

FCC Releases Broadband Plan

March 17, 2010
(3:23)
The FCC plan aims to give every American broadband access by 2020, but many wonder who will have to take on the costs.
   
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