Last year, the U.S. Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) to develop a National Broadband Plan to ensure that every American has “access to broadband capability.” After 36 public workshops, 31 public notices that produced 75,000 pages of public comments, 131 blog posts that triggered 1,489 comments, 69,500 views on YouTube, and countless tweets, the National Broadband Plan is finally here. In the words of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, the National Broadband Plan is “a 21st century roadmap to spur economic growth and investment, create jobs, educate our children, protect our citizens, and engage in our democracy.” The National Broadband Plan will be a major influence on U.S. communications policy for the next decade, and it will be studied by broadband providers and national regulatory authorities in many other countries.

Kelley Drye’s Communications Group has issued the following advisory on the details and implications of the Plan. For more information, please contact any member of the Communications Group.