U.S. to roll out major broadband policy (25 Times The Current Speed)

[kpete]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - U.S. regulators will announce a major Internet policy this week to revolutionize how Americans communicate and play, proposing a dramatic increase in broadband speeds that could let people download a high-definition film in minutes instead of hours.

Dramatically increasing Internet speeds to 25 times the current average is one of the myriad goals to be unveiled in the National Broadband Plan by the the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday.

The highly anticipated plan will make a series of recommendations to Congress and is aimed at spurring the ever-changing communications industry to bring more and faster online services to Americans as they increasingly turn to the Internet to communicate, pay monthly bills, make travel plans and be entertained by movies and music.

"This is a fairly unique event," said Paul Gallant, an analyst with Concept Capital. "The FCC really has never been asked to design a broad regulatory shift like this. Broadband is important and difficult because it threatens every established communications sector."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62D0ZX20100314?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Ok...what's the catch?

I cannot believe our captured government will "give" us anything with out a huge catch that forces us to pay more.
anybody know what the real plan is???

[DJ13]

4. Corporate control to protect IP

Yeah they'll "give" us 25x the speed, but thats only so the corporations can sell us pay per view online.

[pattmarty]

7. I don't know, but you can speculate. Probably be govt subsidies........

...........to private companies. The Dems are as bad as Republicans now as far as giving "subsidies" to private companies.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. I've seen the plan. Everyone will be mandated to buy in

and there will be no price controls. You will have a "deductible" which means you will be charged separately for the first 250 megabytes, and then there will be 25% copays for every megabyte thereafter. Old people will be charged more because they have more leisure and are at higher risk of using excessive bandwidth emailing video back & forth with their grandkids. There will be no public option.

[glitch]

17. lolz - and a little sad sigh too. nt

[liberation]

27. LOL, zing!

Well played, well played...

[Javaman]

29. the catch is that your monthly bill will also increase 25 times the current rate. nt

[jody]

2. I look forward to improvement. Is there a danger of gov. finding ways to charge for such service?

And exclude private providers resulting a profitable gov. monopoly?

[Warren Stupidity]

13. what?

a danger? How about is there any hope that high speed broadband will be provided as a public service instead of as a franchise for rape and pillage as it is currently under the private system?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Quick guess.

Taxpayers will fund some infrastructure for the pleasure of paying carriers for the increased speed.

[Robb]

6. I'd put my money on that guess. nt

[Blue_Tires]

37. +1000

[cornermouse]

5. Strange policy considering broadband isn't available

nationwide even yet. Last time they gave money away to the internet people there was an exception called best possible speed (to be determined by the provider as I found out). End result, less than optimal coverage and speed. In other words, don't hold your breath.

[PSPS]

8. The internet speed in the US is a joke compared to other countries

[pnorman]

14. I was looking for that bar-chart!

THANKS!

[Delphinus]

21. Just like

some of the health care charts ...

[geckosfeet]

9. The amount of long haul fiber capacity far far far exceeds current infrasturcture.

Most building, homes, towns and cities are wired with copper. The long haul fiber carries a signal to the copper switch/router, but then it is bottle necked.

My guess is that the owners of the excess long haul capacity want a return on their investment and are prodding the government to fund an effort to replace as much copper as possible with fiber. That way they get more traffic to charge for, and free infrastructure upgrades.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. ahh..found the subsidy part...

from the bottom of the article:
It would also tell lawmakers that a one-time injection of $9 billion could accelerate broadband reach to the 4 percent of Americans who do have access.

Otherwise they could let the FCC carry out a 10-year plan to realign an $8 billion U.S. subsidy program for universal broadband access instead of universal phone access.

[n2doc]

11. 8 billion to help 4 %

Sounds like a real optimal use of resources :sarcasm:

Maybe it will go to help those with fancy digs in Utah and Jackson Hole get their mansions wired up....

[Mithreal]

15. The fabulously wealthy will greet us as liberators.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. I need an" ironically funny" smiley icon.

to fit your comment.

very good.

[Mithreal]

28. .

:hi:

[JoeyTrib]

20. Ha ha

:rofl:

[JDPriestly]

18. It's to help the Wall Street traders -- give them more of an edge to win

against ordinary investors. Wall Street traders need the fast bandwidth to be able to place their bets faster.

[high density]

32. It's better than $8 billion to help blow up Iraq. NM

[n2doc]

35. That's setting the bar pretty low, wouldn't you say? n/t

[high density]

36. I guess what I meant to say...

Is that of all the things we're spending money on, I find it amazing that people choose to bitch about this.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. Does it end Cable Extortion?

or will it come with baked in profits for verizon, comcast, charter etc.? I am really tired of the monthly visit from the cable mafia.

[lib2DaBone]

22. Uh Oh.. Now What? Bureaucrats NEVER help the taxpayers...

Let me guess.. you can have high speed broadband.. but only if you are on-line between 4 and 5 a/m on weekdays.. in months that contain the letter "R".

And you will not be able to access ANYTHING that contains the word "Democrat".

Sounds about right..

[emsimon33]

23. Cool. So we will no longer be a 3rd world country technologically

[Triana]

24. We certainly need to catch up as far as broadband speeds and internet technology...

...but when gov't bureaucrats + corprats (ie:the plutocracy) are involved, I have TWO WORDS:

Bend.

Over.

(you're about to get screwed)

[valerief]

25. It must release powerful radiation so we'll die sooner. The Republican health plan. nt

[westerebus]

26. If you can see it, can it see you?

:tinfoilhat:

[Javaman]

30. I know I have a piece of tape over the buildin video cam on my computer. nt

[GeorgeGist]

31. whoopy ...

phucking doo.

[Exultant Democracy]

33. This is vital to our future infastructure needs.

[Yavin4]

34. Not To Mention Our Vital Porn Needs n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

38. Now you've hit on something

that Republicans and Democrats in Congress can agree on.

:thumbsup: