The FCC has begun developing a national broadband plan whose goal is to improve access to broadband in the United States as required under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This should have been done in the 1990s but it’s better late than never. The FCC is required to deliver the plan to Congress by 17 February 2010.
In a Notice of Inquiry ], the FCC announced that it will seek comments from users, industry, large and small businesses, non-profits, the disabilities community, governments at the federal, state, local and tribal levels, and all other interested parties on:
- how to ensure all Americans have access to broadband
- how to make it affordable
- what is the status of broadband deployment and the impact of related grant programs
- broadband applications for health care, public safety, energy independence, etc.
Read the statement of acting Commissioner Michael Copps. The public comment process will begin shortly and it is important for people to participate if they want to ensure that they get more than 100 Mbps symmetrical broadband service at very low rates.
Time Warner is rolling out a 20 GB cap, and $1 per GB thereafter.
20 GB = 160,000 Mbytes
160,000 Mbytes / 100 Mbps = 27 hours
After 27 hours, you’re in overtime.