Washington - Mar 16, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission has delivered its National Broadband Plan to Congress. The plan sets an agenda for connecting all corners of the nation to provide what the FCC calls the communications network of the future: A robust, affordable Internet.

"The National Broadband Plan is a 21st century roadmap to spur economic growth and investment, create jobs, educate our children, protect our citizens, and engage in our democracy," said Chairman Julius Genachowski. "It's an action plan, and action is necessary to meet the challenges of global competitiveness, and harness the power of broadband to help address so many vital national issues."

"In every era, America must confront the challenge of connecting the nation anew," said Blair Levin, Executive Director of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative at the FCC. "Above all else, the plan is a call to action to meet that challenge for our era. If we meet it, we will have networks, devices, and applications that create new solutions to seemingly intractable problems."

Titled "Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan", the Plan found that while broadband access and use have increased over the past decade, the nation must do much more to connect all individuals and the economy to broadband's transformative benefits. Nearly 100 million Americans lack broadband at home today, and 14 million Americans do not have access to broadband even if they want it. Only 42 percent of people with disabilities use broadband at home, while as few as 5 percent of people living on tribal lands have access. Meanwhile, the cost of digital exclusion for the student unable to access the Internet to complete a homework assignment, or for the unemployed worker who can't search for a job online, continues to grow.

The FCC says other gaps threaten America's global competitiveness, saying a shortage of wireless spectrum could impede U.S. innovation and leadership in popular wireless mobile broadband services. The FCC calls for more useful applications, devices and content to create value for consumers. The Plan also says the nation has failed to harness broadband's power to transform delivery of government services, health care, education, public safety, energy conservation, economic development and other national priorities.

The Plan sets forth several goals and recommendations: