FCC: Realigning USF will put broadband into small business' hands

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski believes the only way that small businesses will be able to get easier access to broadband services will be by changing the focus of the current Universal Service Fund into a broadband fund and unleashing more wireless spectrum for mobile broadband.

In his address to a broadband oversight meeting held by the Senate Small Business Committee this week, Genachowski pointed out that about 50 percent of small businesses can't get any high speed broadband access (average speeds of 4 Mbps). Although cable and telcos are expanding their small business offerings, many small businesses that can get broadband access are often limited to either a low-speed DSL line or an expensive 1.5 Mbps T1 connection.    

During the hearing, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Me.) asked Genachowski for a broadband deployment timeline. Genachowski responded that the FCC is in the process of setting broadband deployment goals for its five and 10-year plans.

For more:
- Multichannel News has this article

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