FCC Broadband Proceedings and Commissioner Statements on Broadband

Announcing a new FCC.gov. Tell us what you think and help shape the future

Search \| RSS \| Updates \| E-Filing \| Initiatives \| Consumers \| Find People

FCC Broadband Proceedings and Commissioner Statements on Broadband

FCC Broadband Proceedings
Commissioner Statements on Broadband
Reverse Chronological Listing

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

2009

7/15/09
Phoenix Center Workshop: Understanding Broadband Metrics: The Broadband Adoption Index
National Press Club, Washington, DC
McDowell Remarks: Word | Acrobat

7/2/09
National Broadband Plan Process, FCC Open Agenda Meeting
Genachowski Remarks: Word | Acrobat

7/2/09
National Broadband Plan Process, FCC Open Agenda Meeting
Copps Remarks: Word | Acrobat

07/01/2009
Remarks of FCC Chairman Genachowski at Broadband Event, Erie, Pennsylvania
Word | Acrobat

06/18/2009
Pike & Fischer Broadband Policy Summit V, Washington, DC
Word | Acrobat

5/27/09
Acting Chairman Copps Releases Report on Broadband Strategy for Rural America.
News Release: Word | PDF | Text
Report: Word | PDF | Text
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF | Text

4/8/09
FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan.
News Release: Word | PDF | Text
Notice of Inquiry: Word | PDF | Text
Copps Statement: Word | PDF | Text
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF | Text
McDowell Statement: Word | PDF | Text

03/10/2009
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009,
Broadband Initiative Kick-Off, Washington, DC
Word | Acrobat

2008

top of page

07/01/2008
Remarks of Chairman Martin at the Plenary Session of the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy, Seoul, Korea.
Remarks: Word | PDF

07/01/2008
Written Statement of Chairman Martin, United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
Statement: Word | PDF

06/17/2008
Chairman Martin Commentary in Korea Times, "Engine of Productivity and Innovation".
Commentary: PDF

6/12/08
FCC Expands, Improves Broadband Data Collection.
Broadband Data R&O: Word | PDF
706 Report: Word | PDF
News Release (3/19/08): Word | PDF
WCB Open Meeting Presentation: PDF
Martin Statement on Broadband Data & 706 Report: Word | PDF
Copps Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
Copps Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF
Tate Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
Tate Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF
McDowell Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
McDowell Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF

6/12/08
FCC Revises Broadband Data Collection Order.
Order: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

06/12/2008
FCC Expands, Improves Broadband Data Collection.
Broadband Data R&O: Word | PDF
706 Report: Word | PDF
News Release (3/19/08): Word | PDF
WCB Open Meeting Presentation: PDF
Martin Statement on Broadband Data & 706 Report: Word | PDF
Copps Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
Copps Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF
Tate Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
Tate Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF
McDowell Statement on Broadband Data: Word | PDF
McDowell Statement on 706 Report: Word | PDF

3/20/08
Statement by Chairman Martin on 700 MHz Auction Winners.
Word | PDF
Attachment 1: PDF
Attachment 2: PDF
Attachment 3: PDF
Attachment 4: PDF

3/20/08
Winning Bidders Announced for Auction 73.
Public Notice: Word | PDF
Attachment A: PDF
Attachment B: PDF
Attachment C: PDF
Attachment D: Word | PDF

3/20/08
Commissioner Adelstein Comments on Lack of Diversity Among Winners of 700 MHz Auction.
Word | PDF

01/14/2008
Comment Sought On Vuze Petition For Rulemaking To Establish Rules Governing Network Management Practices By Broadband Network Operators. WCB Docket No. 07-52.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

01/14/2008
Comment Sought On Free Press Petition For Declaratory Ruling Regarding Internet Management Policies. WCB Docket No. 07-52.
Public Notice: Word | PDF

2007

top of page

10/24/07
FCC Grants Embarq, Frontier and Citizens Forbearance. (FCC 07-184)
Order: Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Copps and Adelstein Joint Statement: Word | PDF

05/09/2007
Statement of Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein Before the Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship; Small Business Committee; United States House of Representatives.
Speech: Word | PDF

04/16/2007
FCC Launches Inquiry into Broadband Market Practices. The Commission today begins an inquiry to better understand the behavior of participants in the market for broadband services.
NOI: Word | PDF
News Release (3/22/07): Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF
Tate Statement: Word | PDF
McDowell Statement: Word | PDF

2006

top of page

12/06/2006
Remarks of Chairman Martin at the Phoenix Center, US Telecom's 2006 Symposium.
Speech: Word | PDF
Presentation: Powerpoint

11/30/2006
Remarks of Chairman Martin at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business's Center for Business and Public Policy.
Speech: Word | PDF
Presentation: Powerpoint

11/29/2006
FCC Grants First Set of Advanced Wireless Services Licenses Won in Auction No. 66. The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau granted 550 of the 1,087 licenses won in the Advanced Wireless Services Auction completed September 18, 2006 (Auction No. 66).
News Release: Word | PDF
Public Notice: Word | PDF
Attachment A: Word | PDF
Attachment A1: Word | PDF
Attachment B: Word | PDF
Attachment C: Word | PDF

10/24/2006
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate remarks at Rural Telecommunications Congress Conference.
Speech: Word | PDF

10/18/2006
Remarks of FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell at the Media Institute Dinner, 3G Americas Technology Briefing, Washington, DC. "The Promise of the 700 MHz Band"
Speech: Word | PDF

08/07/2006
FCC Adopts Memorandum Opinion and Order on Broadband Over Power Lines to Promote Broadband Service to All Americans.
Memorandum Opinion and Order: Word | PDF
News Release (08/03/2006): Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Tate Statement: Word | PDF
McDowell Statement: Word | PDF

08/07/2006
Broadband over Power Line. The Commission declared that Broadband over Power Line (BPL)-enabled Internet access service is an information service. The action places BPL-enabled Internet access service on an equal regulatory footing with other broadband services, such as cable modem service and DSL Internet access service.
Press Release: Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

06/27/2006
Remarks of Commissioner Adelstein to the Wireless Communications Association, Washington , DC .
Speech: Word | PDF

05/12/2006
Commissioner Tate's Remarks to the Accenture Global Convergence Forum in Beijing, China
Speech: Word | PDF

04/27/2006
ORDER (FCC 06-46) Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 AND 101, et al The FCC modified rules for 2496-2690 MHz Broadband Radio Service (BRS)/Educational Broadband Service (EBS) Spectrum Band to Facilitate Wireless Broadband Access. by 5th MO&O,3rd MO&O and 2nd R&O.
Order: Word | PDF
Martin and Tate Joint Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

04/12/2006
PUBLIC NOTICE (FCC 06-47) Auction of Advanced Wireless Services Licenses Scheduled for June 29, 2006; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments and Other Procedures for Auction No. 66; AU Docket No. 06-30, FCC 06-47. This public notice announces the procedures, minimum opening bids and reserve price for the upcoming auction of Advanced Wireless Services licenses in the 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz bands.
Public Notice: Word | PDF
Attachment A (Complete): PDF
Attachment A (All License Summary): Excel
Attachment A (Cellular Market Area Licenses): Excel
Attachment A (Economic Area Licenses): Excel
Attachment A (Regional Economic Area Grouping Licenses): Excel
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF
Tate Statement: Word | PDF

04/12/2006
FCC Modifies Rules for 2496-2690 MHz Broadband Radio Service (BRS)/Educational Broadband Service (EBS) Spectrum Band to Facilitate Wireless Broadband Access.
News Release: Word | PDF
Martin & Tate Joint Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

04/03/2006
Remarks of Commissioner Copps, Freedom to Connect 2006, Silver Spring, MD.
Speech: Word | PDF

03/21/2006
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Released on FCC Seeking Comment on Proposals for Modifying 700 MHz Public Safety Spectrum to Accommodate Broadband Communications.
NPRM: Word | PDF
News Release (03/17/2006): Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF

03/20/2006
Verizon Telephone Companies' Petition for Forbearance from Title II and Computer Inquiry Rules with Respect to their Broadband Services Is Granted by Operation of Law.
News Release: Word | PDF
Joint Statement Martin & Tate: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

01/18/2006
Remarks of Commissioner Copps on the Release of Consumer Survey on the Importance of the Internet, Washington, D.C.
Speech: Word | PDF

2005

top of page

11/05/2005
Commission Amends Emergency Alert System (EAS) Rules to Include Digital Media Technologies and Seeks Further Comments on EAS System.
Order: Word | PDF
News Release (11/03/2005): Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Abernathy Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

10/20/2005
Remarks of Commissioner Adelstein to 3G Americas: Broadband Wireless Internet – A Technology Briefing, Washington, DC.
Speech: Word | PDF

10/14/2005
Verizon Fast-Packet Order. The Commission waived certain requirements under its price cap rules and regulations to allow Verizon to exercise pricing flexibility for advanced services that rely on packet technology, similar to the pricing flexibility that it has for other special access services.
Order: Word | PDF

09/23/2005
Internet Policy Statement. The Commission adopted a policy statement that outlines four principles to encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of public Internet.
Press Release (8/5/05): Word | PDF
Martin Press Statement (8/5/05): Word | PDF
Policy Statement: Word | PDF
Statements on Internet Policy Statement and Wireline Broadband Order:
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Abernathy Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

09/23/2005
Wireline Broadband Internet Access. The Commission established a new regulatory framework for wireline broadband Internet access services, which are commonly delivered by digital subscriber line technology, known as DSL. The Commission’s action placed DSL and other wireline broadband Internet access services on an equal regulatory footing with cable modem service, consistent with a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the Commission’s light regulatory treatment of cable modem service.
Press Release (08/05/2005): Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

08/15/2005
ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION (FCC 05-149). Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz Bands The FCC advanced its efforts to make spectrum available for an array of innovative wireless services and technologies, including voice, data, video, and other wireless broadband services offered over Third Generation ("3G") mobile networks.
Order: Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

07/07/2005
FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Internet Access Connections.
News Release: Word | PDF
Report: PDF

06/27/2005
Supreme Court Decision - National Cable & Telecommunications Association, et al. v. Brand X Internet Services, et al. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice Thomas, the Court upheld as reasonable the Commission’s interpretation that cable companies that sell broadband Internet service do not provide “telecommunications service” within the meaning of the Communications Act and therefore are not subject to mandatory regulation as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act.
Supreme Court Decision: PDF
Chairman Kevin J. Martin's Announcement Regarding the Supreme Court's Decision in Brand X.
News Release: Word | PDF
Commissioner Abernathy's Statement Regarding the Supreme Court's Decision in Brand X.
News Release: Word | PDF
Statement of Commissioner Copps in Response to Supreme Court Decision in Brand X Internet Services.
News Release: Word | PDF
Commissioner Adelstein Issues Statement in Response to U.S. Supreme Court Brand X Decision.
News Release: Word | PDF

03/25/2005
BellSouth “Naked DSL” Petition. The Commission found that a state commission may not require an incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) to provide digital subscriber line (DSL) service to an end-user customer over the same unbundled network element (UNE) loop facility that a competitive LEC uses to provide voice services to that end user. State decisions that impose such an obligation are inconsistent with and substantially prevent the implementation of the Commission’s federal unbundling rules and policies set forth in the Triennial Review Order.
Order: Word | PDF

03/21/2005
Remarks of Commissioner Adelstein at WISPCON VII. "WISPs: Providing Opportunities for Rural America through Access to Broadband."
Speech: Word | PDF

02/22/2005
FCC Paves the Way for New Broadband Services in the Air.
Report & Order, NPRM: Word | PDF
News Release (12/15/2004): Word | PDF
Attachment: Air-Ground Band Options
Powell Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

02/09/2005
Commission Proposes Flexible Use of Ku-band Frequencies to Further Facilitate Provision of Broadband Satellite Services on Airplanes.
News Release: Word | PDF
NPRM : Word | PDF

2004

top of page

11/12/2004
Vonage Minnesota Order. The Commission preempted an order of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission applying its traditional telephone company regulations to Vonage’s DigitalVoice service, which provides voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service and other communications capabilities.
Order: Word | PDF

10/27/2004
Chairman Powell's Remarks at WISPCON, Las Vegas, Nevada. "WISPs: Bringing the Benefits of Broadband to Rural America."
Speech: Word | PDF

10/27/2004
Section 271 Fiber Unbundling Relief. The Commission provided regulatory consistency for new fiber networks installed by the Regional Bell Operating Companies by providing the same relief from unbundling obligations under Section 271 of the Act that the Commission provided under Section 251 in the Triennial Review Order.
Press Release: Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

10/18/2004
Fiber-to-the-Curb. The Commission relieved incumbent wireline providers from unbundling requirements for fiber-to-the-curb loops. These loops, where fiber optic cable is extended to the neighborhood but not the premises, can deliver many of the same benefits as fiber-to-the-home.
Press Release: Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

09/22/2004
SIXTH REPORT AND ORDER, THIRD MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER, AND FIFTH MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (FCC 04-219) Amendment of Part 2 of the Commission's Rules to Allocate Spectrum Below 3 GHz for Mobile and Fixed Services to Support the Introduction of New Advanced Wireless Services, including Third Generation Wireless Systems Continued ongoing efforts to promote spectrum utilization and efficiency by evaluating spectrum that may be suitable for the provision of new services, including Advanced Wireless Services. By 6thR&O, 3rdMO&O, and 5thMO&O.
Report & Order, NPRM: Word | PDF
Powell Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

08/09/2004
Fiber to Multiple Dwelling Units. The Commission extended the Triennial Review Order’s FTTH unbundling relief to apartment buildings and other multiple dwelling units.
Press Release: Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

07/29/2004
REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (FCC 04-135) Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission's Rules
Order: Word | PDF
Powell Statement: Word | PDF
Abernathy Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

05/25/2004
Commissioner Adelstein's Remarks before the Wireless Internet Service Provider Forum, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Speech: Word | PDF

04/23/2004
FCC Begins Rulemaking Proposing to Allow Wireless Broadband Operations in the 3650-3700 MHz Band
NPRM: Word | PDF
Powell Statement: Word | PDF

03/10/2004
IP Enabled Services Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The Commission sought comment on the appropriate legal classification and regulatory treatment of Internet Protocol-enabled services, such as Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP.
Press Release (02/12/2004):Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

02/25/2004
Remarks of Commissioner Copps, Quello Center Symposium, Washington, D.C.
Speech: Word | PDF

2003

top of page

11/25/2003
REPORT AND ORDER (FCC 03-251) Service Rules For Advanced Wireless Services In the 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz Bands. In this Report and Order, we adopt service rules for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) in the 1710-1755 and 2110-2155 MHz bands, including provisions for application, licensing, operating and technical rules, and for competitive bidding.
Report & Order, NPRM: Word | PDF
Powell Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF
Martin Statement: Word | PDF
Adelstein Statement: Word | PDF

08/21/2003
Triennial Review Order. The Commission provided incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) substantial unbundling relief for loops utilizing fiber facilities. The Commission determined that incumbent LECs do not have to unbundle certain broadband elements, including fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) loops in greenfield situations, broadband services over FTTH loops in overbuild situations, the packetized portion of hybrid loops, and packet switching. The Commission, in applying the unbundling standard of section 251(d)(2) of the Act, considered the directive of section 706 that it provide incentives for investment in broadband facilities, and concluded that these facilities should not be unbundled.
Press Release: Word | PDF
Attachment: Word | PDF
Order: Word | PDF

2002

top of page

03/14/2002
FCC Classifies Cable Modem Service as "Information Service." Commission Initiates Proceeding to Promote Broadband Deployment and Examine Regulatory Implications of Classification.
News Release: Word | PDF
Powell Statement: Word | PDF
Abernathy Statement: Word | PDF
Copps Statement: Word | PDF