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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 March  11,  2004  Michael  Balmoris  at  (202)  418-  0253  Email:  michael.  balmoris@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  TO  ASSESS  WHETHER  BROADBAND  NETWORKS  ARE  BEING  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  ALL  AMERICANS 
 FCC  Inquiry  to  Measure  Deployment  of  Broadband  Networks 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  launched  an  inquiry  into  whether  “advanced  telecommunications  capability,”  or  broadband,  is  being  deployed 
 to  all  Americans  in  a  reasonable  and  timely  fashion.  As  broadband  networks  become  vital  to  the  economy,  healthcare,  education,  and  other  areas  impacting  the  American  public,  the  Notice  of 
 Inquiry  (NOI)  adopted  today  will  analyze  the  various  market,  investment  and  technological  trends  of  broadband  deployment. 


 In  the  NOI  adopted  today,  the  FCC  seeks  information  consistent  with  the  framework  utilized  in  past  broadband  reports,  including:  (i)  how  the  Commission  should  define  advanced 
 telecommunications  capability  (ii)  whether  advanced  telecommunications  capability  is  being  deployed  to  all  Americans  (iii)  whether  the  current  level  of  broadband  deployment  is  reasonable 
 and  timely,  and  (iv)  what  actions,  if  any,  can  be  taken  to  accelerate  broadband  deployment. 
 Additionally,  extending  its  analysis  beyond  the  framework  of  previous  broadband  reports,  the  FCC  seeks  to  develop  a  factual  record  on: 


 1.  Trends  in  other  nations  and  how  America’s  deployment  of  advanced  telecommunications  capability  affects  its  role  in  a  global  economy. 
 2.  The  availability  of  advanced  telecommunications  capability  in  different  market  segments  and  areas  of  varying  densities. 
 3.  The  economic  considerations  that  support  the  deployment  of  advanced  telecommunications  capability. 
 The  Telecommunications  Act  of  1996  directed  the  FCC  to  conduct  regular  inquiries  concerning  the  availability  of  advanced  telecommunications  capability,  and  report  its  findings  to 
 Congress.  Twice  a  year,  the  FCC  gathers  and  publishes  data  about  deployment  of,  and  subscription  to,  high-  speed  and  advanced  services  from  facilities-  based  providers  who  have  250 
 or  more  high-  speed  service  lines  or  wireless  channels  in  service  in  a  state,  using  FCC  Form  477.  At  the  request  of  carriers  submitting  Form  477,  the  FCC  does  not  reveal  individual  company 
 data. 
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 As  required  by  statute,  the  FCC  will  conclude  this  NOI  and  issue  its  report  to  Congress  within  180  days. 
 -FCC- 
 Docket  No.:  WC  04-  54 


 Action  by  the  Commission  March  11,  2004,  by  Notice  of  Inquiry  (FCC  04-  55).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  Martin,  and  Adelstein,  with  separate 
 statements  issued  by  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  and  Adelstein. 


 Wireline  Competition  Bureau  Contact:  Regina  Brown  at  202-  418-  7400 
 News  about  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  can  also  be  found  on  the  Commission’s  web  site  www.  fcc.  gov. 
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