The FCC National
Broadband Plan
SAVE RURAL
BROADBAND
www.saveruralbroadband.org
Internet access is no longer a luxury. Americans
depend on access to the Internet for commerce, education, telemedicine,
entertainment and much more. Knowing the impact broadband (high-speed
Internet) access can have and how it provides connectivity to the global
marketplace, rural telephone companies such as Farmers Mutual
Telephone Company and Federated Telephone Cooperative have
become increasingly concerned with the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) Proposed National Broadband Plan.
The White House tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with
developing a plan to ensure Americans have access to broadband (high
speed Internet). The plan also includes strategies for modifying the
distribution of funds, known as Universal Service Funds (USF). These USF
dollars have historically been used to ensure access to affordable
telecommunications services for all Americans.
The FCC went to work and has presented a Proposed National Broadband
Plan. While the plan that was delivered establishes the groundwork to
move Universal Service funding from phone service to broadband service
(which could impact your phone rates), it fails at establishing access
to the Internet for all. The Proposed National
Broadband Plan sets forth guidelines for the provision of 100 Mbps (meg
or megabit per second) service – IN URBAN AREAS. However, for rural
areas the threshold is much lower – 4 Mbps of service.
Rather than supporting the philosophy of universal service for all
Americans that was established by Congress long ago, this plan offers
faster, better service to some Americans while guaranteeing lesser
service for others. This “divide” in the level of
service threatens the economic viability of rural America.
Internet access is now considered an essential service fueling commerce,
education, telemedicine, entertainment, and employment opportunities.
That’s just today. The future is likely to create even more uses for
high speed access.
With all of that in mind, picture the division in opportunity between
urban areas and rural areas when one receives service 25 times faster
than the other as well as receiving a lion’s share of the USF funding.
The current FCC plan makes rural Americans second class citizens in the
broadband world.
How Can I Help?
It is imperative that rural America makes its
voice heard before it is too late. Farmers Mutual and
Federated Telephone urge you to contact your representative and
senators and tell them you don’t support the FCC National Broadband Plan
and the digital divide it creates. Share with them the impact the plan
will have on rural America and ask they take action to prevent it
immediately. The FCC and Congress must reform the plan to ensure the
same levels of service to all US customers, not just a select few.
Visit
www.broadband.gov to learn more about the plan and review it in its
entirety. For your convenience, we have also created a sample letter
that you can complete and mail.
Click here for Sample Letter - PDF.
Congressmen:
Collin Peterson
221 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
phone: (202) 225-2165
fax: (202) 225-1593
Senators:
Al Franken
320 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
phone: (202) 224-5641
Amy Klobuchar
302 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
phone: (202)224-3244