Activity on Capitol Hill and at the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) this year will directly affect the prospects for ongoing innovation, entrepreneurial investment, universal broadband access, mobile policy, and Internet openness. Early in the Obama Administration, Congress tasked the FCC with the responsibility of developing a National Broadband Plan (“NBP”) to establish the nation’s goals with respect to broadband service and provide a roadmap for achieving them. The NBP, delivered to Congress one year ago, contained a series of recommendations to advance universal broadband access and affordability, promote innovation, and create new wireless opportunities. A principal staff architect of the NBP and a 20 year Capitol Hill veteran, Colin Crowell will discuss the status of the NBP’s implementation, including prospects for obtaining more wireless frequencies for broadband use, reform of the multi-billion dollar universal service program for the Internet era, and current legislative threats to Internet openness and entrepreneurial investment.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_IAP000518