FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Services for Internet Access

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RELEASES DATA ON HIGH-SPEED SERVICES FOR INTERNET ACCESS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission released new data on high-speed connections to the Internet in the United States. For reporting purposes, high-speed lines are connections that deliver services at speeds exceeding 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction, while advanced services lines are connections that deliver services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both directions. 1) High-speed lines increased by 22% during the first half of 2007, from 82.8 million to 100.9 million lines in service, following a 27% increase, from 65.3 million to 82.8 million lines, during the second half of 2006. 2) Advanced services lines increased by 16% during the first half of 2007, from 59.8 million to 69.6 million lines. 3) The FCC estimates that high-speed DSL connections were available to 82% of the households to whom incumbent LECs could provide local telephone service as of June 30, 2007, and that high-speed cable modem service was available to 96% of the households to whom cable system operators could provide cable TV service.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280904A1.doc

* High-Speed Services for Internet Access: Status as of June 30, 2007
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280906A1.doc

* Just An Online Minute... U.S. Broadband Penetration Lags
[SOURCE: MediaPostPublications, AUTHOR: Wendy Davis]
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArti...

COMMISSIONER STATEMENTS

* Martin Statement on Broadband Data & 706 Report: "As the importance of broadband continues to increase, it is important that we understand better how and where broadband is being deployed by providers and used by consumers. Today's Order will require detailed subscribership information on a local level and detailed information about the download and upload speeds of broadband services offered to consumers. Specifically, we will collect information in the following tiers of service: First Generation data: 200k up to 768k, Basic Broadband : 768k to 1.5mbps, 1.5mbps to 3.0mbps, 3.0mbps to 6.0 mbps, 6.0mbps and above
Additionally, we conclude that we will obtain and map additional information about broadband service availability to better direct resources toward unserved and underserved areas. Armed with this additional broadband data, the Commission will be better able to assess and promote the deployment of broadband across the nation."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A2.doc

* Copps Statement on 706 Report: "We can write reports that conclude that Americans are receiving broadband in a reasonable and timely fashion. But the facts are always there, glaring and staring us in the face, showing us where we really stand. The fact is that your country and mine has never had any cognizable national broadband strategy to get the job done. So while broadband deployment is better than when I came to the FCC-I would surely hope so!-and the Commission may separately issue a report today showing improvements in broadband deployment, we've been working with one hand tied behind our backs, inhibited by the Commission's dependence on antiquated methodologies and less than rigorous analysis. I'm happy we're starting to change our benchmarks, but, my goodness, how late it is!"
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A6.doc

* Adelstein Statement on 706 Report: "In Section 706 of the 1996 Act, Congress wisely directed this Commission to conduct regular inquiries into the status of broadband deployment. Today, we take up the Commission's first report in four years on this important topic. Given the ever-increasing importance of broadband to our country's economy, public safety, education, and health care, I have long argued that the Commission should engage in a comprehensive analysis of broadband deployment, availability, affordability, and competitiveness. Regrettably, this report, like its predecessor in 2004, fails to set out an adequate basis for concluding that broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely basis to all Americans, which is our directive under the statute. Instead, this report repeats past shortcomings, relies on faulty data, and fails to present a clear picture of broadband in America."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A7.doc

* Tate Statement on 706 Report: "I believe that the continued and complete deployment of broadband across this nation should be our number one focus, indeed Congress requires this: to provide incentives for investment in broadband facilities and encourage broadband deployment. To that end I have worked to remove legacy regulations to increase incentives for investment in new infrastructure, allowing services, applications and business plans to develop and proliferate in a less regulatory environment."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A8.doc

* McDowell Statement Broadband on 706 Report: "The truth is, America continues to enjoy the most dynamic and robust Internet economy in the world. It's important to note that we achieved this success not by regulatory fiat, but by keeping regulations minimal, thus allowing entrepreneurs to flourish. Rigid command-and-control government mandates and arbitrary definitions and terminology would have inhibited creativity and growth, not fostered it. As we move forward toward the next generations of broadband technologies, it is important to remember this important lesson from history: government cannot out-guess the genius of free markets; nor should it try. Nonetheless, we can only measure our progress with diverse and sound data. Currently, we use the data that the Commission receives through its broadband reporting requirements. In a companion item today, we are adopting more granular and expansive reporting requirements that should allow the Commission to render more comprehensive analyses of advances in the marketplace. However, this Commission, and all future commissions, should take great care to seek accurate and complete information that is useful to assess the state of broadband deployment. We must be mindful to let the data speak for itself and analyze it with a variety of methodologies. No one methodology can reveal the complete truth. Accordingly, we should remind ourselves often that the process of data collection and analysis is iterative and that we must constantly strive to improve our performance in this regard. Politics should play no part. Anything less will not move America further ahead in this important area."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280909A10.doc