---
title: "\"To Do List\" for the National Broadband Plan"
date: 2009-12-18T13:00:42-05:00
author: Import Bot
canonical_url: "https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/to-do-list-for-the-national-broadband-plan"
section: Blog Posts
---
# “To Do List” for the National Broadband Plan

 December 18, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although [advertised as a ​“policy framework” for the National Broadband Plan](http://www.telecomlawmonitor.com/2009/12/articles/fcc/broadband-plan-is-only-item-on-fcc-december-agenda/), Wednesday’s presentation to the FCC looks more like a ​“to do” list for Chairman Genachowski’s 2010 agenda. A number of suggestions will be very controversial, including ensuring ​“productive” use of spectrum (especially TV broadcast spectrum), spurring competition for TV set-top boxes, and measuring ​“advertised vs. actual” broadband speeds. Most relevant to this blog’s focus are the reforms of USF and the FCC Formal Complaint Process.

**USF Reform**. Staff emphasized that USF should be refocused to support broadband, and suggested a 5-10 year transition. Increases in broadband support would come with ​“trade-offs”, primarily in the form of cuts in high cost support, but with all funding programs being reformed. The long-discussed Lifeline support for broadband services may be growing legs. Finally, ​“sustainability” would be the driving force for reforming the USF contribution base (no doubt, spurred by concerns over the new [14% USF factor ](http://www.telecomlawmonitor.com/2009/12/articles/universal-service-fund/usf-contribution-factor-reaches-a-new-high/)next quarter).

**FCC Formal Complaints.** A number of enforcement reforms were discussed to promote infrastructure deployment. In particular, the Staff urged ​“timely and predictable” dispute resolution by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau of pole attachment requests and development of a uniform rental rate to replace a rate that varies by the type of provider attaching to the pole. FCC mandates to decrease the ​“make-ready” work a pole owner performs and to impose deadlines for current attachers to perform ​“make-ready” work may be on the horizon too.

The FCC press release and Staff’s presentation are available [here](http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-295256A1.pdf) and [here](http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-295259A1.pdf). The FCC will adopt the National Broadband Plan by February 17, 2010.

 

 **Tags:** [Broadband](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/broadband), [FCC](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/fcc), [Universal Service Fund](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/universal-service-fund)

 

 - Share this entry 
    - 
    - 
    - 
    -
- [  View entry pdf ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/pdf-snapshots/to-do-list-for-the-national-broadband-plan-20230914234444.pdf)
 
 

### Search Blog

  

### Subscribe

  

### Explore Topics

- [Broadband](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/internet)
- [Federal & State Regulatory](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/federal-state-regulatory)
- [Universal Service Fund](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/universal-service-fund)
 
 

### Related Services

- [Communications](https://www.kelleydrye.com/industries/communications)