1. Broadband Data Improvement Act
Passed in September 2008
Importance of broadband
Economic development, public safety, health care, educational opportunities, quality of life, competitiveness
Encourage state activity and public/private partnerships

2. Provisions FCC reports as required by Section 706 updated: Now annual
Demographic information for un-served areas
International comparisons
Data speeds and price in 75 communities in at least 25 countries; include capital cities
Market structure, # of competitors, facilities-based providers, technologies used, services, regulatory model, business and residential use

3. FCC to begin to do periodic surveys of consumers
Technology used, prices paid, data transmission speeds, services and applications used, other broadband service capability regularly used
Secretary of Commerce
Update census data for computer ownership and dial-up/broadband
Comptroller General
Look for additional metrics to use
At least average price per megabit per second, actual speed compared to advertized speeds; comparison to other countries; distinguish between complementary and substitutable offerings

4. Study of impact on small business—Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy
Grants by Secretary of Commerce to encourage states to improve broadband
Purpose: Access to affordable and reliable broadband, improve technology literacy, increase computer ownership and broadband use; establish grassroots technology teams; establish environment to encourage investment
Use of funds: Provide a baseline assessment of broadband service deployment in each state; local technology planning teams (to benchmark technology use, set goals, develop plans); collaboration with service providers, establish programs to increase computer ownership and Internet access, collect and analyze market data, create GIS maps
Secretary of Commerce to issue report on use of funds and create a web page

5. Title II of the Act Protecting children in the 21st century
Public awareness campaign and creation of working group (FTC and assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information)