FCC Uses Web to Engage Public on National Broadband Plan
FCC Uses Web to Engage Public on National Broadband Plan
FCC Uses Web to Engage Public on National Broadband Plan

    Get Involved Today

    During the first phase of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) proceeding, we provided the agency with a list of suggestions (PDF link) as to how it might achieve Congress’ vision for universal broadband access. In those initial comments, we urged the Federal government to become “an evangelist for broadband” by “embracing new media technologies at all levels of government” and by using those tools to “provide citizens with information, increase transparency and encourage engagement and participation in government processes.”

    A few months later, it’s encouraging to see the FCC putting some of those ideas into practice as part of the NBP. Alongside its shiny new Broadband.gov website, the FCC has now launched its first-ever blog–the NBP-centric, appropriately titled “Blogband”as well as a Twitter account. In his introductory blog post, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski states that the goal of Blogband is to “foster public dialogue about the National Broadband Plan” and he urges readers to get involved. Given that the previous FCC was often criticized for its attitude toward public outreach, it’s great to see that the new Commission is not afraid to leverage new media technologies in order to solicit comments from everyone with a stake in our national broadband infrastructure. Here’s hoping that the Commission continues to harness the wisdom of the online collective in its effort to lead us toward a brighter broadband future.