FCC to bring broadband to 93 million Amercians

by Stevie Smith - Feb 23 2010, 08:11

Having recently announced its intention to push U.S. online speeds to upwards of 100Mbps in the next 10 years, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has further detailed its hopes for the country’s broadband adoption ahead of submitting its plans to Congress on March 17.

More pointedly, the long awaited National Broadband Plan is being rolled out with a view to helping 93 million Americans presently without broadband acquire the associated benefits of high-speed connectivity.

According to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, “a digital divide is an opportunity divide,” and, as such, giving more Americans access to broadband will improve their ability to search for employment, reduce their energy consumption levels, and utilise online educational and healthcare services.

“To bolster American competitiveness abroad and create the jobs of the future here at home, we need to make sure that all Americans have the skills and means to fully participate in the digital economy,” outlined Genachowski in an official statement.

It is also the FCC’s aim to drastically improve the country’s global standing when it comes to online performance. Presently, the U.S. ranks a lowly 19th in the world, lagging far behind current leaders Japan and Korea.

However, Genachowski has also warned that significant broadband adoption across the U.S. will likely have to overcome hurdles connected to general user ignorance regarding the technology, along with the related costs of required hardware and high-speed Internet packages.

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