FCC Seeks Comment on a Broadband Clearinghouse

In its development of a National Broadband Plan, the FCC is seeking comment on whether to create a broadband clearinghouse for easy access to useful broadband information. Comments are due Nov. 16, 2009. The FCC seeks comment on the following issues:

• the concept of a broadband clearinghouse for best practices and whether the FCC or another federal agency should create a clearinghouse;
• what the primary purposes of a broadband clearinghouse are;
• type of content that a broadband clearinghouse would contain;
• whether there are current clearinghouses that would serve as a good model;
• the features that a clearinghouse should have;
• what types of entities (local governments, broadband providers, broadband-adoption-focused organizations, scholars) would most benefit from a broadband clearinghouse and how;
• what audiences would benefit most from a clearinghouse;
• whether the clearinghouse entity should engage in outreach or information sharing beyond those in a Web-based, electronic format;
• how could the clearinghouse be publicized;
• how a clearinghouse can be most useful;
• how can a clearinghouse identify or feature truly-effective broadband practices and avoid “bad” practices and data that may end up in the clearinghouse;
• how should information in the clearinghouse be structured and categorized to maximize the extent to which it is comparable and searchable;
• what editorial or other resources are necessary to ensure that a clearinghouse contains accurate and updated information;
• whether the manager should actively control or filter what data and best practices are allowed into the clearinghouse;
• how can the clearinghouse leverage public participation to obtain best managerial outcomes;
• whether the clearinghouse should have a retention schedule for contributed data; and
• who should update and maintain a broadband clearinghouse.