$20million Spent Creating a "Broadband Plan": [1st Apr 2010]

The FCC will start the process of creating regulations from the ideas set out in their Broadband plan beginning with a few rules which will be announced on April 21. The first areas to be covered will be Universal Service Fund reform, Mobile data roaming, set top box reform and cyber-security. The USF is a phone service subsidy to which broadband services will be added. The FCC also hope to allow customers the chance to use a roaming service to access the Internet outside their service area. They also want to receive public comments on how networks can avoid network failures.

It has been revealed that the FCC National Broadband Plan cost the US $20.62 million to produce. The figure was released in a letter from Julius Genochowski to the House Communications and Internet Subcommittee. $6m went on salaries, and the rest on IT, software, cost models, data and research, workshops and travel. It has been suggested that the money was spent telling the subcommittee something they already knew. They also questioned why private sector individuals were not hired. Genochowski pointed out that the salaries were only paid to people who had been vetted to ensure there were no conflicts of interest.

Verizon has changed its mind about the FCC Broadband Plan just one week after saying how they supported it. They now suggest that it is aimed at old services such as telephone, radio and cable. Verizon president Thomas Tauke commented at an event sponsored by the New Democrat Network that he believed the FCC did not take enough time and delivered rules designed to regulate the Internet. He expressed concern that the rules will hinder innovation and investment. Verizon has suggested that consumers should have more say in which devices, software, applications and types of access they want. They also have concerns about subsidies and how exactly people on low incomes will receive help to get access.

Verizon appear to be winding down its roll out of FiOS TV and broadband service which offers the only alternative to cable and satellite services. Studies have shown that the areas which do currently receive it are enjoying lower cable prices due to the competition. The company is now moving towards completing networks in areas where they already have the franchises to sell TV services. Cities such as Washington DC, New York City and Philadelphia will continue to have expanded services but other major cities will miss out entirely. Verizon seem to have no intention of securing franchises in other major cities. The company had a goal to extend the service to 18 million homes by the end of this year, a goal they are on target to achieve.

It has been revealed that more than 190,000 individuals and 600 communities have requested to become part of Google's trial of their ultra high speed broadband. Google had previously said they would offer the service to a minimum of 50,000 people but could increase that to 500,000. In the past the company has been at the forefront of broadband by offering free wifi to residents of Mountain View in California, the area where their headquarters are situated.

AT&T have extended their 24Mbps service to all their customers. The service known as U-Verse High Speed Internet Max Turbo was initially launched in just three markets last year but is now available to all for $65 a month when bundled with their TV service. The service also allows them to access 20,000 AT&T wifi hotspots. While the service appears to be a significant improvement, better speeds are still available from cable companies Cox Communications and Comcast who are able to offer 50Mbps and 100Mbps services.