BNA's Web Watch - Broadband Infrastructure

H.R. 1818 (Matsui)
Broadband Deployment Acceleration Act of 2007.
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the expensing of broadband Internet access expenditures, and for other purposes.
Status
Summary and Status

H.R. 2035 (Herseth Sandlin)
Rural Broadband Improvement Act.
To tailor the rural broadband program to better serve those living in rural areas.
Status
Summary and Status

H.R. 2054 (Boucher)
Universal Reform Act of 2007.
To reform the universal service provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.
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Summary and Status

H.R. 2174 (Salazar)
Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2007.
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
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Summary and Status

H.R. 2569 (Graves)
Rural Broadband Deployment Act.
To codify certain changes proposed by the Department of Agriculture to the rules governing eligibility for the rural broadband access program, and for other purposes.
Status:
Summary and Status

H.R. 2953 (Space)
Rural Broadband Access Enhancement Act.
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to improve the application process for the rural broadband program of the Department of Agriculture.
Status
Summary and Status

H.R. 3281 (Boucher)
Community Broadband Act of 2007.
To promote competition, to preserve the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services, and for other purposes.
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Summary and Status

H.R. 3428 (McHugh)
Rural America Digital Accessibility Act.
To bridge the digital divide in rural areas.
Status
Summary and Status

H.R. 3627 (Space)
Connect the Nation Act.
To promote the deployment and adoption of telecommunications services and information technologies, and for other purposes.
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Summary and Status

H.R. 3893 (Allen)
Connect America Now Act.
To promote the deployment and adoption of telecommunications services and information technologies, and for other purposes.
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Summary and Status

S. 101 (Stevens)
Universal Service for Americans Act (“USA Act”).
A bill to update and reinvigorate universal service provided under the Communications Act of 1934.
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Summary and Status

S. 711 (Smith)
Universal Service for the 21st Century Act.
A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the contribution base for universal service, establish a separate account within the universal service fund to support the deployment of broadband service in unserved areas of the United States, and for other purposes.
Status
Summary and Status

S. 1032 (Clinton)
Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2007.
A bill to amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
Status
Summary and Status

S. 1190 (Durbin)
Connect the Nation Act.
A bill to promote the deployment and adoption of telecommunications services and information technologies, and for other purposes.
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Summary and Status

S.Res. 191 (Rockefeller)
A resolution establishing a national goal for the universal deployment of next-generation broadband networks to access the Internet and for other uses by 2015, and calling upon Congress and the President to develop a strategy, enact legislation, and adopt policies to accomplish this objective.
Status
Summary and Status

S. 1439 (Roberts)
Rural Broadband Improvement Act of 2007.
A bill to reauthorize the broadband loan and loan guarantee program under title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
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Summary and Status

S. 1492 (Inouye)
Broadband Data Improvement Act.
A bill to improve the quality of federal and state data regarding the availability and quality of broadband services and to promote the deployment of affordable broadband services to all parts of the Nation.
Status
Summary and Status

S. 1853 (Lautenberg)
Community Broadband Act of 2007.
A bill to promote competition, to preserve the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services, and for other purposes.
Status
Summary and Status

Congressional Hearings
Senate
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Improving Internet Access to Help Small Business Compete in the Global Economy (September 26, 2007)

Executive and Independent Agencies
Federal Communication Commission
High-Speed Services for Internet Access.
Provides summary statistics of subscribership data that facilities-based providers of high-speed services file twice a year on FCC Form 477. 10/07 Release. As of 12/31/06.
Report (Acrobat Format) | Tables (Excel Format)

Federal Trade Commission
FTC Issues Staff Report on Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy
Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy: A Federal Trade Commission Staff Report, June 2007 (170 pages, PDF)

Government Accountability Office
Broadband Deployment Is Extensive Throughout the United States, but It Is Difficult to Assess the Extent of Deployment Gaps in Rural Areas (Washington, DC: GAO, May 2006)

CRS Reports
Broadband Internet Regulation and Access: Background and Issues (November 2, 2007)
(July 31, 2007 – available)

International Organizations
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECD Broadband Statistics to December 2006, (April, 2007)

OECD Communications Outlook 2007 (July 2007)
See chapter 5 - “Broadband and Internet Infrastructure

Nongovernment Organizations
Alliance for Public Technology
Broadband Initiatives: Enhancing Lives & Transforming Communities

Center for Creative Voices in Media
THE CASE FOR UNIVERAL BROADBAND IN AMERICA: NOW! A Report by the Center for Creative Voices in Media (October 1, 2007)

Communications Workers of America
Speed Matters: A Report on Internet Speeds in All 50 States. (July 2007)

Consumer Electronics Association
Broadband in America: Access, Use, and Outlook, (July 2007)

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
The Role of Competition in a National Broadband Policy (October 2007)

The Case for a National Broadband Policy (June 2007)

Internet Innovation Alliance
The Broadband Fact Book by the Internet Innovation Alliance (May 2007)

Pew Internet and American Life Project
Why We Don't Know Enough About Broadband in the U.S. (November 14, 2007)

Measuring Broadband: Improving Communications Policymaking through Better Data Collection (November 14, 2007)

Why It Will Be Hard to Close the Broadband Divide? (8/1/2007)

Home Broadband Adoption 2007
John B. Horrigan, Associate Director for Research and Aaron Smith, Research Specialist Pew Internet & American Life Project

Progress and Freedom Foundation
Broadband Data: What Do They Tell Us and Do We Have Enough? (June 28, 2007)

Speedtest.net
Global Statistics

Free Trials Click Here

Computer Technology Law Report

Daily Report for Executives

Ecommerce Law Daily

Electronic Commerce Law Report

Telecommunications Monitor

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