Although the FCC has made strides in encouraging broadband invest...

Although the FCC has made strides in encouraging broadband investment, “much remains to be done” to achieve President Bush’s goal of “universal, affordable access” to broadband technology by 2007,” the High Tech Broadband Coalition (HTBC) said in a letter sent Thurs. to FCC officials. HTBC said the FCC should, in the near term: (1) Resolve outstanding petitions for reconsideration of the Triennial Review Order to strengthen ILECs’ “incentives to invest in last mile broadband facilities serving multiple dwelling units and neighborhoods.” (2) Establish “a minimal regulatory structure in the cable and wireline broadband proceeding.” HTBC said the FCC could provide more certainty “by determining that the transport component of DSL and cable modem service can be provided under private carriage even if they are ultimately held to be telecommunications.” (3) Keep VoIP “largely free from regulation.” HTBC said the agency should “expeditiously reform intercarrier compensation and the contribution methodology for universal service” to eliminate some of the pressure to regulate VoIP. (4) “Reform the MMDS/ITFS spectrum allocation to enable mobile and fixed wireless broadband services.” (5) Begin a rulemaking to permit the reuse of vacate UHF TV channels 21-51. (6) “Expedite the availability of UHF TV channels 52-69 for other services.” HTBC said for the longer term, broadband investment would be stimulated by action on any remaining universal service and VoIP issues, speeding the DTV transition and “action on more fundamental spectrum reforms enabling flexible use of spectrum where appropriate.”