Statement by FCC Chairman Wheeler on National Broadband Plan Anniversary

Five years ago, the Federal Communications Commission released America's first National Broadband Plan. The Plan was a seminal moment in reorienting the agency to focus on the opportunities and challenges of high-speed Internet, and it was the spark that ignited many significant advancements in communications policy. It laid out a roadmap for reforming many FCC programs, such as the ongoing modernization of the FCC's universal service programs, which is connecting millions of previously unserved Americans to our digital economy. It also pioneered new policies, most notably breakthrough ideas about spectrum policy. The recently completed AWS-3 auction, which generated a record breaking $41 billion in net bids, and 2016's first-in-the-world Incentive Auction are just two of the plan's game changing proposals to enhance America's position as the global leader in mobile innovation. Congratulations to Chairman Genachowski and Blair Levin for their leadership of the terrific FCC staff in developing this comprehensive strategy to unleash the opportunities of fast, fair, and open broadband networks for all Americans.