[1st-mile-nm] Heather Wilson supports Broadband Mapping Legislation

[Richard Lowenberg]

>From a few weeks ago:
The Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee unanimously approved October 10 the Broadband Census of
America Act of 2007, which promotes the further development of nationwide
broadband services by improving collection of data and mapping. Under the
bill, the Federal Communications Commission would use a consumer survey to
gather pricing and service information rather than rely on telecom.
companies for data.   The bill also aims to assist underserved communities
in taking concrete steps to improve broadband deployment in their areas.

The 1st-Mile Initiative has recommended a detailed statewide broadband
mapping project, as part of a proposed "Integrated Strategic Broadband
Plan for New Mexico", to aid in decisionmaking, new deployments,
partnerships creation and determination of unserved areas.
 rl
-----

Wilson Co-sponsors Broadband Mapping Legislation  	October 23, 2007

>From Congresswoman Heather Wilson's web site:
http://wilson.house.gov/Releases.aspx?ID=1536

The Broadband Census Act of 2007 will improve collection of Broadband data

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Heather Wilson has co-sponsored the
Broadband Census Act of 2007, legislation marked up on October 10, 2007,
in the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

The Broadband Census Act of 2007 provides for a detailed and comprehensive
census of broadband availability across the nation. The bill also directs
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to
establish a grant program to assist local communities in assessing their
broadband capabilities.

It has become increasingly evident that current data collection methods
used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are inadequate and
highly flawed, and for most of the past decade, the FCC has failed to
correctly track broadband penetration levels in the United States.

The GAO has issued several reports that found fault with the FCC's
methods.

In addition to considering a 200kbps connection broadband, the FCC has
consistently stated that if a zip code has just one home or business with
broadband service, that zip code is wired for broadband. This method has
made broadband penetration look better than it is - particularly in rural
markets.

The Broadband Census Act of 2007 will improve the quality and quantity of
the data the Government collects concerning broadband deployment, as well
as facilitate the construction of a nationwide inventory map of broadband
facilities. The bill will direct the FCC to conduct periodic consumer
surveys concerning broadband adoption and usage and assist local
communities in increasing broadband usage and deployment in their areas.

There is a growing concern that the FCC inadequately collects data on
broadband penetration. This legislation will allow the U.S. Government to
better gather quality information on broadband services that are being
provided, said Wilson.

Local and rural communities in New Mexico will benefit from this
legislation by providing them with grants to increase broadband usage and
deployment.

There is concern that the United States is falling behind internationally
in providing high speed internet. At the end of 2006, the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development said that the United States fell to
15th in the world in providing broadband penetration, a measure of the
number of broadband subscribers for every 100 inhabitants.

I support efforts to map the availability of broadband services. Such an
exercise may help determine whether there is a lack of supply that is
limiting broadband availability in a particular geographic area, said
Congressman Fred Upton, ranking member of the Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and the Internet, in his opening statement. That
information is far more important, and more useful, than competitively
sensitive subscriber data.


------------------------------------------------
Richard Lowenberg
P.O.Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110,  505-603-5200 cell

New Mexico Broadband Initiative
www.1st-mile.com/newmexico
------------------------------------------------