FCC poised to give broadband deployment a failing grade

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to report this year that broadband providers are not deploying services in a reasonable and timely way to all Americans.

FCC and industry officials said this year's 706 report, which is on circulation at the agency, will reach a conclusion similar to last year, finding the speed of broadband deployment unsatisfactory. The FCC gave broadband deployment a failing grade in 2010 after years of ruling that services were spreading quickly enough. The agency has since cited the 2010 findings to justify instances of government intervention. It used the report to help legally abed its net-neutrality regulations passed in December. This year's findings could rile House Republicans as well as phone and cable companies, who panned the FCC's findings last year.