Clyburn Endorses Unified Community Anchor Network to Speed Broadband Deployment

Speaking to the American Library Association, Federal Communications Commission member Mignon Clyburn focused her remarks on National Broadband Plan recommendations directly support libraries' efforts to promote deployment and adoption of broadband.

The most significant recommendation, she pointed out, is proposal to overhaul the Universal Service Fund. Internet2, National Lambda Rail, ALA, and others have called upon the federal government to create the Unified Community Anchor Network (UCAN) support and assist anchor institutions in obtaining and utilizing broadband connectivity. The National Broadband Plan endorses this recommendation. The Plan also discusses a number of useful roles that the UCAN could play in helping community institutions enhance their use of broadband. First, the UCAN could help establish federal and state coordinators and consortia of anchor institutions. These coordinators would help secure broadband connections and would also provide hands-on experience and capacity in the building and running of networks. Second, the UCAN could have a national procurement role in negotiating bulk equipment and broadband service agreements. It could then distribute this equipment and services to community institutions. Third, the UCAN could provide a platform for interconnected networks to share resources and applications and provide training opportunities.