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PCCA Journal|2

nd

Quarter 2015

41

»

Identify regulatory barriers unduly impeding broadband

deployment or competition;

»

Survey and report back on existing programs that cur-

rently support or could be modified to support broad-

band competition, deployment, or adoption; and

»

Take all necessary actions to remove these barriers and

re-align existing programs to increase broadband com-

petition, deployment, and adoption.

• The council will report back to the President, within 150

days, with the steps each agency will take to advance

these goals, including specific regulatory actions or budget

proposals.

»

These steps will build on and expand several actions

agencies have already taken, such as developing a com-

mon application form for wireless broadband provid-

ers to lease space for their rooftop antennas, sharing

of best practices for “dig once” policies by state and

municipal governments nationwide, and offering new

online tools for finding and leasing federal assets avail-

able for broadband networks.

Building on the FCC’s Landmark

Decision to Promote Local Choice

The FCC last month independently decided to take action

against two of the 19 state laws that restrict communities

from deciding what broadband solutions fit their needs. This

step forward helped unserved and under-served communi-

ties, many of whom have no way to stay economically com-

petitive absent a municipal provider of broadband.

• As a result, communities in two states, Tennessee and

North Carolina, will no longer be held back from setting up

municipal networks like successful examples in Chattanoo-

ga and Wilson, where those networks affordably deliver

broadband speeds around 100 times the national average.

Continued Support to Communities

& Competitors Expanding Broadband

Offerings

The administration continues to build on the momentum

we began earlier this year with the standup of Commerce’s

BroadbandUSA program. Later this year, the Department of

Agriculture will reopen a revamped broadband loan program,

which offers financing to eligible rural carriers that invest in

bringing high-speed broadband to unserved and under-served

rural areas.

• In March, the Department of Agriculture announced a total

of $35 million in broadband infrastructure loans in Arkan-

sas, New Mexico, and Iowa to deliver enhanced services to

help attract and grow businesses, as well as to improve ed-

ucational and health care services. Time and again, studies

show that affordable broadband offers increased economic

opportunities in rural areas, which is why Rural Develop-

ment is committed to delivering high-speed Internet service

to these communities.

• Through the BroadbandUSA program, the Department of

Commerce has followed through on its promise to support

more communities seeking to learn from the experts on how

to increase broadband investment and competition, includ-

ing through municipal broadband. Since January, Commerce

has provided ongoing one-on-one advice to communities

across the U.S. including in Ohio, Kansas, Florida, Califor-

nia, and West Virginia; organized a regional summit in Jack-

son, Mississippi; and held a national webinar to introduce

BroadbandUSA and present the new Guide to Public-Private

Partnerships for Broadband Investment.

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Continued from page 39