STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
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, as Amended by the 
Broadband Data Improvement Act, GN Docket No. 11-121, Eighth Broadband Progress Notice of 
Inquiry
Each year, broadband providers invest tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure – building out 
nationwide 4G networks and expanding wireline networks to all areas of the country.  Broadband 
providers are rolling out networks to millions of homes that can deliver speeds of 50 Mbps or higher 
using DOCSIS 3.0 and fiber technologies.
But we know from our last broadband progress report, released earlier this year, that the U.S. is 
still not where it needs to be in this area:  More than 20 million Americans remain without access to 
robust broadband, and there is broad consensus that market forces alone won’t close this gap in the near 
future. And almost one third of Americans—100 million of us—haven’t adopted broadband.  Some find 
this acceptable; I do not. 
Congress has given the Commission the responsibility to issue a broadband progress report for 
the country each year, and to ensure that broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion 
to all Americans.  This is one of our most important duties, one that advances innovation and investment, 
helps create jobs, and brings much-needed benefits to consumers. 
The Commission has taken important steps to address the country’s broadband challenges, 
including making more spectrum for broadband available, reducing barriers to broadband infrastructure 
deployment, empowering consumers, and promoting innovation and investment throughout the 
broadband economy.  But more remains to be done.  The Commission is in the home stretch of Universal 
Service Fund and intercarrier compensation reform, and will complete that proceeding soon.  We are also 
working to unleash more spectrum for broadband, and to significantly increase broadband adoption.
Today we launch the process to develop our next broadband progress report, seeking broad public 
input on how to continue improving the data and analysis we use to monitor and accelerate our nation’s 
progress toward our shared goal of universal broadband.