2017-02931. Federal Advisory Committee Act; Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of intent to establish.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces its intent to establish a Federal Advisory Committee, known as the “Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee” (hereinafter “the Committee”).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Hurley, Designated Federal Officer, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, [phone], or email: [e-mail]; or Paul D'Ari, Deputy Designated Federal Officer, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, [phone], or email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has determined that the establishment of the Committee is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Commission by law, and the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, concurs with the establishment of the Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to make recommendations to the Commission on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet access, or “broadband,” by reducing and/or removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure investment. This Committee is intended to provide an effective means for stakeholders with interests in this area to exchange ideas and develop recommendations to the Commission on broadband deployment, which will in turn enhance the Commission's ability to carry out its statutory responsibility to encourage broadband deployment to all Americans. Issues to be considered by the Committee may include, but are not limited to, drafting for the Commission's consideration a model code covering local franchising, zoning, permitting, and rights-of-ways regulations; recommending further reforms of the Commission's pole attachment rules; identifying unreasonable regulatory barriers to broadband deployment; and recommending further reform within the scope of the Commission's authority (to include, but not limited to, sections 253 and 332(c)(7) of the Communications Act and section 6409 of the Spectrum Act).

Advisory Committee

The Committee will be organized under, and will operate in accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2). The Committee will be solely advisory in nature. Consistent with FACA and its requirements, each meeting of the Committee will be open to the public unless otherwise noticed. A notice of each meeting will be published in the Federal Register at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting. Records will be maintained of each meeting and made available for public inspection. All activities of the Committee will be conducted in an open, transparent and accessible manner. The Committee shall terminate two (2) years from the filing date of its charter, or earlier upon the completion of its work as determined by the Chairman, unless its charter is renewed prior to the termination date.

During the Committee's first term, it is anticipated that the Committee will meet in Washington, DC for at least three (3) one-day meetings. The first meeting date and agenda topics will be described in a Public Notice issued and published in the Federal Register at least fifteen (15) days prior to the first meeting date. In addition, as needed, working groups or subcommittees (ad hoc or steering) will be established to facilitate the Committee's work between meetings of the full Committee. All meetings, including those of working groups and subcommittees, will be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Accessible Formats: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to [e-mail] or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at [phone] (voice) or [phone] (TTY).

Federal Communications Commission.

Daniel Kahn,

Chief, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau.