Posted on by pmg

November, 2017 FCC BDAC Working Group Reports

FCC BDAC Working Group: Model Code for Municipalities

Part of the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee

Item Voted by BDAC to the FCC Commissioners at the 11/9/17 Meeting

The FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, Model Code for Municipalities Working Group ("Working Group") was charged with developing a model code for local governments across the country to act as a non-binding, flexible guideline to help to speed broadband deployment across the United States. There are over 39,000 local governments (including townships, counties, and other municipalities) in the United States, with enormous diversity based on geography, size, resources, aesthetics, existing infrastructure, regulatory and legal framework, history, culture, and community priorities.

In light of the FCC’s charge, and given the importance of broadband deployment to America’s economic competitiveness as well as creating educational and employment opportunities for our population, the Working Group developed the following set of guiding principles to focus its work.

The Working Group seeks review and approval by the full BDAC of the guiding principles.

  1. Contribute to the swift and safe deployment and expansion of broadband throughout the United States.

  2. Ensure the benefits of broadband networks and infrastructure reach all communities.

  3. Promote competition, access, and diversity in the deployment of both wired and wireless broadband infrastructure and the provision of broadband services.

  4. Develop guidelines for the use of public assets to ensure the best overall outcome for all current and potential residential and commercial broadband users.

  5. Develop guidelines for predictable, network-level planning and implementation, which also helps to minimize adverse impacts to municipalities and local communities and maximizes benefits.

  6. Promote transferring of knowledge to local governments to help enable and accelerate broadband deployment.

  7. Recognize the need to allocate resources to digital inclusion and innovative business models to drive broadband adoption and close digital divides.

  8. Promote innovation, economic and job growth, and improved quality of life through broadband access and usage.

  9. Promote fair labor and safety standards for workers and the public.

  10. Balance the use of public rights-of-ways to support and enhance robust and competitive broadband services in a manner that is consistent and balanced recognizing the differences among technologies.

Model Code for Municipalities Working Group Members

BDAC Members

  1. Chair: Douglas Dimitroff, Partner, Phillips Lytle LLP, New York State Wireless Association
  2. Vice-Chair: The Honorable Sam Liccardo, Mayor, City of San Jose, California
  3. Chris Bondurant, Assistant Vice President, Construction and Engineering Operations, AT&T Mobile
  4. Milo Medin, Vice President, Access Services, Google Fiber
  5. Brian Mefford, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Nation Exchange
  6. Jaime Fink, Chief Product Officer, Mimosa Networks
  7. Marc Ganzi, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Bridge Holdings LLC, ExteNet Systems
  8. Larry Hanson, City Manager, City of Valdosta, Georgia
  9. Marc Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, Rocket Fiber
  10. Kim Keenan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council
  11. Geoffrey Manne, Executive Director, International Center for Law and Economics
  12. Jim Matheson, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  13. Larry Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Vantage Point Solutions, National Exchange Carrier Association

Non-BDAC Members

  1. David Mayo, SVP, Chief of Network Planning, Implementation & Business Operations T-Mobile USA, Inc.
  2. Genevieve Morelli, President ITTA, advocate for wireline broadband service providers before federal policymakers
  3. Diane Griffin Holland, Vice President—Law & Policy US Telecom — The Broadband Association
  4. Debbie Goldman, Telecommunications Policy Director, Communications Workers of America
  5. Michael Grover, Vice President, Government Affairs,Cox Communications, Inc.
  6. Steve Vondran, Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations American Tower Corporation
  7. Debra Berlyn, Board of Directors, National Consumers League
  8. Miguel Gamiño Jr., Chief Technology Officer, Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio, City of New York
  9. Robert Hance, President and Chief Executive Officer Midwest Energy Cooperative
  10. Jason Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Blackfoot
  11. Richard Bennett

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