On Monday, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, announced the FCC will hold workshops designed "to analyze successful gigabit network deployments and to provide information on how industry local and state leaders can meet the goals of the Gigabit City Challenge." The first workshop is scheduled for March 27th hosted by the Wireline Competition Bureau at the FCC’s Commission Meeting Room at 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-C305, Washington D.C. 20544.
The Public Notice states the workshop will look at how current gigabit communities deploy their networks, the economic and social benefits that result from gigabit communities, ways communities can aggregate demand to make deployment more economically appealing, and how communities can leverage their assets to bring about an "ultra-fast network." The workshop is free and open to the public.
As background, on January 18th, Chairman Genachowski, issued the "Gigabit City Challenge." Chairman Genachowski called for at least one gigabit community in every state by 2015, in order to "accelerate the creation of a critical mass of markets and innovation hubs with ultra-fast Internet speeds." He said, "If we build it, innovation will come." Quoting a Fiber to the Home Council report, the FCC asserted only 42 communities in 14 states have gigabit level speeds.
Related article: California Needs a Bold Plan for a Gigabit City
