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Last updated: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Free broadband for America has inched closer to reality: The plan, after two years of debate, is finally on the calendar for a full vote by the Federal Communications Commission. Assuming the plan is approved at the FCC’s Dec. 18 meeting, one of the agency’s last before President-elect Barack Obama takes office, free broadband could become reality within a year. First proposed in 2006, the plan calls for a chunk of airwaves called AWS-3 (now idle) to be used for wireless broadband across the USA. Under terms contemplated by the FCC, the winner of the AWS-3 auction would have to reserve at least 25 percent of network capacity for free broadband. The winner would be allowed to charge for other services, including premium broadband that would offer faster speeds. Assuming there are no last-minute snags, the AWS-3 auction will take place next year. The FCC plans to impose several conditions. Among them: The winner will be required to launch free broadband with a filter that automatically blocks adult content. Users can remove the filter once they’ve confirmed that they are at least 18 years old. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has championed the idea of free broadband. Martin is particularly concerned about rural areas, where dial-up and satellite-based Internet still rule. Dial-up isn’t fast enough to handle interactive fare, including video streaming. Satellite has the muscle, but broadband-strength speeds can cost $100 or more a month. About 38 percent of rural households have broadband. In urban and suburban areas, where competition for customers can be fierce, the numbers are a lot higher, 57 percent and 60 percent, respectively. Martin says free broadband can help bridge the gap. “This initiative brings with it the promise of a free basic broadband service to hundreds of thousands of Americans who currently have limited or no access to the high-speed Internet,” Martin…

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FCC To Vote on Free Broadband Across U.S.

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