FTTH Council Applauds Rep. Boucher's Call for Higher Broadband Speeds
WASHINGTON - The Fiber-to-the-Home Council, a non-profit association of technology companies and telecommunications service providers, today commended Congressman Rick Boucher's (D-VA) call for the National Broadband Plan to set specific targets for widespread availability of very high-speed broadband within five years.
In a letter sent yesterday to the Federal Communications Commission, Rep. Boucher, who chairs the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, urged the FCC to "explicitly endorse a goal for minimum broadband speeds of at least 50 megabits downstream and 20 megabits upstream for 80 percent of the population by 2015."
Download a copy of Rep. Boucher's letter here.
The FCC is currently in the final phase of developing recommendations for a National Broadband Plan, which it is required to submit to Congress in February 2010.
"Without committing to such ambitious, but achievable, levels of speed and service, the promises of telemedicine, distance learning and telecommuting may remain a far-off dream rather than a near-term reality," Boucher wrote, noting that other industrialized nations are racing ahead on expanding access to next-generation networks and gaining a competitive advantage in process. "The development of accelerated broadband speeds as standard offerings for consumers is an essential part of the foundation for the nation's long-term economic stability and prosperity."
"When it comes to moving America forward to broadband leadership in the world, Chairman Boucher is exactly right - we need to set targets that are sufficient to meet growing demands for more bandwidth to download and upload video, to engage in telework and to access other Internet applications of the future," said FTTH Council President Joe Savage. "It would not make sense for our National Broadband Plan to lack precise goals for deploying the networks we will need to ensure our economic leadership in the world."
Savage added that fiber to the home technologies currently being marketed can easily handle up to 100 megabits in both directions, and that a number of FTTH service providers, most notably Verizon, are already delivering 50/20 Mbps service. FTTH networks are available to about 15 percent of the homes in the country, with nearly six million American households now connected directly into fiber networks.
"There are hundreds of telecom providers that are already upgrading to FTTH and deploying next-generation networks in urban, suburban and rural areas of the country," he said. "Making 50/20 broadband service - and faster - available to 80 percent of the population can and will be achieved if our national broadband policy sets that goal."
About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council
Now in its ninth year, the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council is a non-profit association consisting of companies and organizations that deliver video, Internet and/or voice services over high-bandwidth, next-generation, direct fiber optic connections - as well as those involved in planning and building FTTH networks. The Council works to create a cohesive group to share knowledge and build industry consensus on key issues surrounding fiber to the home. Its mission is to educate the public and government officials about FTTH solutions and to promote and accelerate deployment of fiber to the home and the resulting quality of life enhancements such networks make possible. More information about the Council can be found at www.ftthcouncil.org.
Media Contact:
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