Delivering broadband

Dear PropellerHeads: I don't care so much about health care, but when is the government going to do something about the fact that I can't get broadband service in my area? That's what they really ought to fix.

A: Always good to hear from someone who has their priorities straight! You must be a PropellerHead. While some would argue that the federal government usually "fixes" something in the same sense that a vet "fixes" a dog, we get your point: The feds make sure your mail gets delivered no matter how remote your home, so why not e-mail too?

You'll be thrilled to know that in March the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made available its 376-page National Broadband Plan at www.broadband.gov. This document, which outlines a plan for providing broadband service to the entire country, was mandated by Congress as part of last year's stimulus bill.

The commission's research showed that 35 percent of adults in the country did not have high-speed ("broadband") Internet access at home (http://bit.ly/bKQqpy). They interviewed more than 5,000 "non-adopters," which they grouped into three categories. "Digital hopefuls" lacked computers or found broadband service unaffordable, while the "digitally uncomfortable" said they lacked the necessary skills to use the Web. Lastly, the "digitally distant" thought the Internet "was a waste of time." Clearly, they'd never heard of YouTube.

Of the plan's six stated goals, Goal 3 is that "every American should have affordable access to robust broadband service, and the means and skills to subscribe if they so choose." The FCC is hoping for a 90 percent broadband adoption rate by 2020.

And the FCC thinks that if you already have broadband service, it should be faster, according to Goal 1, which calls for "ways to download the movie 'Spaceballs' at ludicrous speed" (paraphrased slightly).

The other goals are aimed at upgrading wireless networks, equipping schools with faster connections, aiding communications between emergency first responders, and improving energy consumption patterns.

Now let's talk funding. The plan calls for "reforming" - politician for "raising" - the "Universal Service Fund" fees, which are taxes on phone usage that subsidize phone service in "high cost" areas (like yours). Consult the "miscellaneous fees" section of your phone bill to see what you're paying for this. These fees would also be added to current broadband subscribers' bills.

But don't go dumping beverages into the harbor just yet, Sam Adams, because at least some of the plan's costs are designed to be "budget-neutral." The hope is that money will pour in from private investments and spectrum auctions (in which the government sells the rights to transmit wireless signals to the highest bidder). And seriously, when was the last time the federal government went over budget on something?

We have to admit, though, that as technology fans who get paid to build websites, we're a little giddy at the thought of high-speed Internet access being as ubiquitous as telephones, electricity and "snail mail." The fact that the feds successfully expanded all these services into rural areas is not lost on us, but what are stamps up to nowadays? And will they ever stop Saturday delivery of my e-mail too?

For more on the non-broadband aspects of the plan, like what it means for online health records and government transparency, see the links on our blog at http://bit.ly/bQ6BuP. It's fun reading, even for the "digitally distant."

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. E-mail them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our Web site at www.askthepropellerheads.com.