Workshop: Review and Discussion of Broadband Deployment Research

December 10, 2012

As part of the Commission’s development of the National Broadband Plan, the Commission has requested two independent studies. The Commission asked Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society to conduct an expert review of existing literature and studies about broadband deployment and usage throughout the world. The Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (“CITI”), based at the Columbia Business School in New York, conducted an independent outside expert review of projected deployment of new and upgraded broadband networks.

Drafts of the Berkman and CITI studies have been released and placed on Public Notice for comment by the public:

Next Generation Connectivity: A review of broadband Internet transitions and policy from around the world [ http://www.fcc.gov/stage/pdf/Berkman_Center_Broadband_Study_13Oct09.pdf ]

Broadband in America: Where It is and Where It is Going [ http://www.broadband.gov/docs/Broadband_in_America.pdf ]

In these workshops, the authors of the studies will provide an overview of their findings and provide their responses to comments and critiques of their studies.

Topics

The following are some of the preliminary topics that will be covered at this workshop. If you would like to discuss any other topics, please send us your suggestions [ http://esupport.fcc.gov/askfccapp/extapp/submitMsg.action?dept_id=bband ].

Do the Berkman and CITI studies accomplish their intended purposes?
Do the studies provide a complete and objective survey and review of the subject matter?
How much weight should the Commission give to these studies as it develops the National Broadband Plan?
What areas of future research along the lines of the Berkman and CITI studies would be important and fruitful for the academic and governmental research community to pursue?

Agenda

1:00 - 1:05 pm	Introduction of Workshop, Scott Wallsten, OBI
1:05 - 1:50 pm	PANEL 1 Berkman Report: “Next Generation Connectivity: A Review of Broadband Internet Transitions and Policy from Around the World” Yochai Benkler, Berkman Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies, Harvard Respondents: Harold Feld, Legal Director, Public Knowledge Thomas Hazlett, Professor of Law & Economics, Director of the Information Economy Project, George Mason University School of Law
1:50 - 2:00 pm	Break
2:00 - 2:45 pm	PANEL 2 Citi Report: “Broadband in America: Where It Is and Where It is Going (According to Broadband Service Providers)” Robert C. Atkinson, Director of Policy Research, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI) Ivy Schultz, Research Assistant Supervisor, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI) Respondent: Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project

Location & Coordinators

Date: 12/10/09
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room)
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Directions

Coordinator: Thomas Koutsky [ Thomas.Koutsky@fcc.gov ]
Phone: (202) 418-3613