The FCC has released a draft study by the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information at the Columbia Business School in New York reviewing the deployment of new and upgraded broadband networks.
The report, “Broadband in America – Where It Is and Where It Is Going (According to Broadband Service Providers),” analyzes the public statements of companies regarding their plans to deploy and upgrade broadband networks in the future for the FCC. It also examines the relationship between prior announcements of companies and actual deployment. The commission is seeking comments on the study by Dec. 4.
Broadcasters, who have been identified in certain proposals as sources of spectrum that could be made available to help meet the goals for nation’s broadband plan, may glean some additional perspective on the issues involved.
One conclusion of the report indicates wired broadband service providers expect to serve roughly 90 percent of U.S. homes with speeds of 59Mb/s downstream by the 2013-2014 timeframe. The report also points out that wireless broadband providers expect to offer Internet access at up to 12Mb/s — but more likely 5Mb/s — to 94 percent of the population by 2013. It also found that the majority of U.S. homes will have the choice of two wired broadband services.
The report also finds that analysts predict 69 percent of households will subscribe to wired broadband by 2015, while 53 percent will subscribe to wireless broadband service by 2013.
