STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN
Re:  Development of Nationwide Broadband Data to Evaluate Reasonable and Timely 
Deployment of Advanced Services to All Americans, Improvement of Wireless Broadband 
Subscribership Data, and Development of Data on Interconnected Voice over Internet 
Protocol (VoIP) Subscribership, WC Docket No. 07-38
Re:  Inquiry Concerning the Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability to 
All Americans in a Reasonable and Timely Fashion, and Possible Steps to Accelerate 
Such Deployment Pursuant to Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, GN 
Docket No. 07-45
Since becoming Chairman, I have made broadband deployment the Commission’s 
top priority.  Broadband technology is a key driver of economic growth. The ability to
share increasing amounts of information at greater and greater speeds, increases 
productivity, facilitates interstate commerce, and helps drive innovation.  But perhaps 
most important, broadband has the potential to affect almost every aspect of our lives –
from where we work, to how we educate our children and increasingly to the way 
healthcare is delivered.
Continued broadband deployment and infrastructure investment is vital to this 
country’s economic growth.  The Commission has developed a number of policies to 
encourage the deployment of broadband.  We have removed regulatory obstacles that 
discouraged infrastructure investment and slowed deployment.  We have classified DSL, 
BPL and Wireless broadband as “information services” not subject to legacy regulations.  
We have streamlined the franchise process for new entrants and incumbent cable 
providers and banned exclusive contracts in apartment buildings to spur competition that 
is essential to further investment in underlying infrastructure for broadband.  We initiated 
a nationwide pilot program for the deployment of broadband infrastructure for healthcare 
facilities.  We have also just completed the largest auction in FCC history of spectrum 
that is ideally suited to broadband.
The United States is the largest broadband market in the world and our newest 
report finds continued growth.  During the first half of 2007, high speed lines increased 
by 22 percent, from over 82 million to over 100 million lines.  Since I joined the 
Commission, these lines have grown 950% from just over 9 million lines to over 100 
million lines.  Our analysis indicates that more than 99% of the country’s population lives 
in the more than 99% of Zip Codes where a provider reports having at least one high-
speed service subscriber.  Additionally, nationwide, we estimate that high-speed DSL 
connections were available to 82% of the households to whom ILECs provide local 
phone service as of the end of June 2007.  High-speed cable modem service was available 
to 96% of the households to whom cable operators provide cable TV service.  This is 
good news for consumers and good news for the country.   Accordingly, I support the 
conclusion in the Section 706 report that broadband services are currently being deployed 
to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.  
But there is certainly more work to be done.  That is why I am pleased the 
Commission today adopts an Order to collect dramatically improved data on broadband 
services.  This improved data will enable us to better identify and analyze the deployment 
of broadband throughout the nation.  
As the importance of broadband continues to increase, it is important that we 
understand better how and where broadband is being deployed by providers and used by 
consumers.  Today’s Order will require detailed subscribership information on a local 
level and detailed information about the download and upload speeds of broadband 
services offered to consumers.  Specifically, we will collect information in the following 
tiers of service:    
o First Generation data: 200k up to 768k
o Basic Broadband : 768k to 1.5mbps
o 1.5mbps to 3.0mbps
o 3.0mbps to 6.0 mbps
o 6.0mbps and above
Additionally, we conclude that we will obtain and map additional information 
about broadband service availability to better direct resources toward unserved and 
underserved areas.  Armed with this additional broadband data, the Commission will be 
better able to assess and promote the deployment of broadband across the nation.
I am pleased that the Commission, by its actions today, continues to take 
additional steps to further broadband deployment.