PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 17-110 Released: January 31, 2017 FCC ANNOUNCES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces the formation of a new federal advisory committee, the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC or Committee), which will provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet access. By this Public Notice, we seek nominations for membership on and a Chairperson to this Committee. The Commission intends to establish the BDAC for a period of two (2) years, with an expected starting date during the spring of 2017. Nominations for membership to the BDAC should be submitted to the FCC no later than February 15, 2017. Procedures for submitting nominations are set forth below. MISSION The BDAC’s mission will be to make recommendations to the Commission on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet access, or “broadband,” by reducing and/or removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure investment. This Committee is intended to provide an effective means for stakeholders with interests in this area to exchange ideas and develop recommendations to the Commission on broadband deployment, which will in turn enhance the Commission’s ability to carry out its statutory responsibility to encourage broadband deployment to all Americans. Issues to be considered by the Committee may include, but are not limited to, drafting for the Commission’s consideration a model code covering local franchising, zoning, permitting, and rights-of- way regulations; recommending further reforms of the Commission’s pole attachment rules; identifying unreasonable regulatory barriers to broadband deployment; and recommending further reform within the scope of the Commission’s authority (to include, but not limited to, sections 253 and 332(c)(7) of the Communications Act and section 6409 of the Spectrum Act). The BDAC will be organized under, and will operate in accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). 1 As authorized by FACA, the Committee is authorized to facilitate its work through informal subcommittees, or other subgroups of the Committee, which shall report their activities and recommendations to the Committee as a whole. 1 5 U.S.C. App. 2. 2WHO MAY APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP The Commission seeks applications from representatives of various sectors of the communications industry, representatives of state and local regulators, and representatives of consumers and community organizations that wish to be considered for membership on the BDAC. The Commission is particularly interested in receiving nominations and expressions of interest from individuals and organizations in the following categories: ? Rural Internet service providers that use licensed or unlicensed spectrum, fiber optics, copper wires, or coaxial cables, or any other means to offer high-speed broadband service; ? Urban Internet service providers that use licensed or unlicensed spectrum, fiber optics, copper wires, or coaxial cables, or any other means to offer high-speed broadband service; ? Independent network builders and networking equipment installers; ? Other entities involved in deploying broadband; ? Industry trade associations; ? Federal, state, local, and Tribal government agencies; ? Consumer and community organizations; and ? Qualified representatives of other stakeholders and interested parties with relevant experience. Members will be selected to balance the expertise and viewpoints that are necessary to address effectively the issues to be considered by the Committee. Members are appointed as representatives of the communications industry, representatives of federal, state, local and Tribal regulators, or representatives of consumers and community organizations. As appropriate, members may also be appointed for their individual expertise as “Special Government Employees.” Because Committee members seeking to serve in their individual capacities for their individual expertise may not be registered federal lobbyists, such nominees who are registered federal lobbyists will not be considered. OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Members will serve at the discretion of the Chairman of the Commission. Members must be willing to commit to a two (2)-year term of service from the date of establishment of the Committee, and should be willing and able to attend at least three (3) one-day plenary committee meetings per year during the Committee’s term. Members also will be encouraged to participate in deliberations of at least one (1) subcommittee or other subgroup, if any are established. The time commitment for participation in any subcommittee or other subgroup may be substantial. However, subcommittee or other subgroup meetings may be conducted informally, using suitable technology to facilitate the meetings, subject to oversight by the Designated Federal Officer of the BDAC. Meetings of the full Committee shall be open to the public and timely notice of each meeting shall be published in the Federal Register, and shall be further publicized through other appropriate vehicles. All such meetings will be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. 3APPLICATION PROCEDURE, DEADLINE AND MEMBER APPOINTMENTS All nominations should be received by the Commission as soon as possible, but no later than February 15, 2017. No specific nomination form is required; however, each nomination must include the following information: ? Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a description of the organization, sector or other interest the nominee will represent; ? Nominee’s mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number; ? A statement summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and reasons why the nominee should be appointed to the Committee; ? A statement, if the nominee will represent a specific organization, describing the organization as well as the benefit of having the organization represented on the Committee; and ? A statement confirming that the nominee, if seeking appointment for the individual’s expertise and not as a representative of an organization or entity, is not a registered federal lobbyist. For applicants seeking to represent an organization or company, the applicant’s nomination to the Committee must be confirmed by an authorized person (e.g., organization or company official) that such organization or company wants the nominated person to represent it on the Committee. For example, this confirmation may be in the following format: “I am [insert official’s name], the [insert official’s title] at the [insert name of organization - e.g., company, government entity, trade association, etc.], with responsibilities for [concise description of position]. My organization would like [insert proposed member’s name], who is currently [an employee of/consultant/attorney to the company] to serve as our representative on the Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.” Please note this Public Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method by which the Commission will solicit nominations to identify qualified candidates; however, all candidates for membership on the Committee will be subject to the same evaluation criteria. All nominations, including the requisite statements listed above, should be submitted by e-mail to BDAC@fcc.gov. ACCESSIBLE FORMATS To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).] For additional information about the Committee, please contact Brian Hurley, the Designated Federal Officer for the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, at 202-418-2220, or Brian.Hurley@fcc.gov; or Paul D’Ari, the Deputy Designated Federal Officer, at 202-418-1550, or Paul.DAri@fcc.gov. - FCC - 4