FCC looks to other countries for broadband ideas

Federal regulators are looking around the world at the successes other countries have had with broadband development. They're focusing on Sweden and more than 30 other countries from Australia to the United Kingdom. A national broadband plan is mandated in the economic stimulus package, and must be delivered to Congress next February.

At an FCC workshop this week, CongressDaily reports that it will be difficult to imitate successes from other countries.

"It's very hard to draw lessons because there are so many factors unique to different countries," said Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. "In essence, one size doesn't fit all," he added, noting that variables such as geography and population make comparisons difficult.

In a posting on the FCC's broadband blog, Blair Levin, the agency official tasked with overseeing the broadband strategy, outlined some of the commission's goals.

"Gathering data will be key to developing a solid plan," he wrote. "But data means nothing if we don't exercise good judgment about what it all means." He added that he thinks his team will "cut to the chase" with recommendations to Congress for "universal, robust" broadband.

The decision to study the successes of other countries is a clear acknowledgment, though, that the U.S. runs behind the times in broadband development.

For more on the FCC and broadband:
- check out this article on nextgov.com