Broadband.gov Browse Popular ideas

It would be great if there were true competition in the broadband market. I live in Phoenix Arizona and you have the option of Cox Communications as your internet and television provider or switching to poor quality satellite internet and television. Essentially Cox is the ONLY choice here in Phoenix if you have any sort of speed requirements to your internet connection (such as live chat, streaming any sort of content,... more »

This site, broadband.ideascale.com, is an official link from the FCC's broadband.gov site and has been announced as an official FCC website. However, it does not have any link to a privacy policy. Moreover, it is asking commenters and topic starters to include an email address or open an account. If the user supplies this personal information, it is not displayed on the main page, but part or all of it is accessible... more »

The concept of an open home gateway is one of the least noticed and most important of the components of a national broadband plan, and I believe the US is at a critical crossroads.

On one path is an incredible opportunity:
*to help close the digital divide,
*to create an entire ecosystem of connected TV that allow a freedom of communication that can quickly reach virtually all citizens,
*to create entire new industries... more »

Korea spent billions of dollars bolstering their broadband infrastructure and it shows. Their internet culture is ubiquitous. People watch TV shows & streaming news on their mobile devices on the subway! We need to catch up.

Carriers need to provide IP connectivity and then get out of the way.
Net neutrality is critical. If the carrier gets to decide what content is appropriate or control the content I receive, then we will have eliminated one of the most significant aspects of the Internet - the ability to connect with any resource, anywhere on the Internet. Broadband must deliver the fastest pipes to the most people, not deliver the people... more »

Upstream internet speeds in the US are still abysmal. Much focus and discussion has been focused entirely on download speeds.

Biggest example is with the iPhone. You cannot purchase one from AT&T to use on their network without subscribing to their iPhone data plan. If you only want to use it for voice and Wi-Fi, you are out of luck. They require this additional service charge. This is clearly not in the best interest of the consumer.
Likewise, if I wanted to get a phone and pay for data only, and use VoIP for the occasional phone call,... more »

The National Broadband Plan should include the Federal Communications Commissions' plans to modernize the federal Universal Service Program to support affordable, universal, landline, and wireless broadband.

Abolish mobile phone texting price gouging! The cost to handle the data transfer of a few characters from phone to phone is minimal in comparison to voice. It must end!

Bring the US back to the top 10 countries of the world in terms of Internet connectivity. Force the phone companies to stop gouging us on broadband access over slow and antiquated xDSL technology. Take the "dark fiber" sitting in the ground and use it. Bring fiber to the "last mile" and up to the doorsteps of everyone, not just the big companies who can afford to put their own in. And offer high-speed internet for... more »

The National Broadband Plan should direct federal policymakers to open underutilized spectrum currently reserved for both public and private use for a new generation of wireless devices that will provide robust broadband service over great distances and rough terrain without interference to existing licensed uses.

If I have a mobile data plan, I should be able to tether the phone to my computer without having to pay an additional fee.

 

I own my phone. If there is a tethering app available on it, I should be able to utilize this app. Who are the telcos to control what I do on a device that I own?

In addition to ample warning of a public hearing, the FCC should ensure such hearings are conducted after normal business hours so more people can attend.

Scheduling meetings during the hours of 8-5 means that only people who can afford to take off work (or whose work is lobbying the FCC) will be able to attend. This skews the input toward those with money and away from those without.

If the FCC wants to hear from... more »

To achieve the goal of supporting a wide range of applications in diversified fields, broadband itself must first be simplified to be like a utility that concentrates on delivering resources only. Otherwise, users will be distracted by broadband issues and can not focus on applications of interest. This is particularly true for home environment where technical support staff in any form should not be expected to be a norm.... more »

The fixed costs inherent in network rollout and development are such that true competition in the market for broadband as it is structured now is impossible: at most you'll get a duopoly of competing cable and DSL.

In order to enhance content neutrality and bring competition to the market, you need to separate the infrastructure (which is a natural monopoly/duopoly) from service provision (which can be a true competitive... more »