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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2000 |
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Balmoris at (202) 418-0253 Email: mbalmori@fcc.gov | |
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ISSUES INQUIRY FOR ITS SECOND REPORT ON ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY
Notice of Inquiry Seeks Data to Determine Rate of Deployment Especially to Rural and Inner City Areas and Persons with Disabilities
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated its second inquiry, as required by Congress, into whether “advanced telecommunications capability” is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion. Advanced telecommunications capability refers to facilities that can send and receive enormous amounts of information very quickly. For example, a user can change web pages as fast as he or she can flip through the pages of a book, and can have services such as two-way videoconferencing.
In order to make informed judgments about whether deployment is reasonable and timely, today’s Notice of Inquiry seeks objective, empirical data about the current state of broadband deployment. More specifically, the Commission seeks information about the present deployment of broadband to business and residential customers, and to different geographic areas and socio-economic groups. The Commission also seeks comment on what actions will accelerate deployment if it is determined that advanced telecommunications capability is not being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.
The Notice also includes what the Commission believes is the current status of planning, deployment, actual offerings and sales, and competition in the residential broadband market.
The Commission’s first inquiry, which was released on February 2, 1999, ended with the conclusion that deployment of advanced telecommunications appeared, at that time, to be “reasonable and timely” – although the Commission stated that it was difficult to reach a firm judgment given the early stage of deployment. The Commission also lacked information at that time to determine whether high-speed services were reaching rural and inner-city users and persons with disabilities.
As required by statute, the Commission will conclude this inquiry and issue its second report within 180 days.
Action by the Commission February 17, 2000, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC 00-57). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani.
CC Docket No. 98-146