The FCC's Rose-Colored Broadband Glasses

THE FCC'S ROSE-COLORED BROADBAND GLASSES
[SOURCE: Broadbandreports.com, AUTHOR: Karl]
It's that time of year again; time for the FCC to release U.S. broadband data that's about as reliable as a heroin addict in charge of your retirement funds. Despite years of criticism from everyone from consumer advocates to the GAO, the FCC continues to insist that if one home in a zip-code has broadband, that zip code is wired for service. The FCC also insists that anything over 200kbps is broadband. Collectively, this methodology makes the state of the broadband union look rosy. This pleases providers, who, with the FCC's help, have done everything possible to keep more accurate penetration data private. If the nation's broadband picture looks good, there's no reason to enact consumer-friendly, progressive policies. Such policies could improve and extend the nation's infrastructure, but they'd also harm provider bottom lines by requiring they more thoroughly serve "unprofitable" rural communities. One interesting note: FCC data shows that broadband over powerline (BPL), which the agency once called the "great broadband hope," actually had fewer total subscribers at the end of December than when the year started. Also, FCC Chairman seems to be trying to head off possible legislation by making minimal changes to the way the agency collects and presents its data. Among his proposed changes are moving to nine-digit zip code analysis, as well as breaking down broadband service by speed: 1) Anything between 200 kilobits and 768 kilobits per second will be considered first-generation broadband, 2) From 768 kilobits to 1.5 megabits is to be considered basic broadband. 3) In between 1.5 megabits and 3 megabits a second will be classified as high-speed service, 4) Between 3 megabits and 6 megabits called robust service and 5) Anything over 6 megabits a second called premium.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-FCCs-RoseColored-Broadband-Glasse...

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