Science, Technology Information & Articles

Benefits
To ensure that the goal for access to broadband is met, the FCC is reaching out to businesses, consumers and municipalities alike so that no community is left behind. Broadband deployment is so crucial because of the many ways it touches people’s lives. Broadband services provide users high-speed access to data, video, audio and voice services all over one connection -- bringing tremendous benefits and achieving important goals.

• Education - Distance learning and Internet research are enabled, allowing students anywhere to access resources and obtain realtime instruction from qualified educators that might not otherwise be available in their local community


• Healthcare - Remote or small clinics can be connected to experts and medical centers throughout the country, broadening access to medical expertise and specialties


• Jobs & Productivity - The availability of broadband access is critical to attracting new businesses and giving existing businesses the ability to compete. With broadband access, worker productivity increases, jobs are created, and wages and the tax base grow


• Homeland Security - Local public safety officials can get timely access to the information they need to assess and act on threats. In times of crisis or a natural disaster, getting accurate information to residents can be a life saver. Informed citizens are better prepared to help themselves and their neighbors in times of need

Multiple Broadband Technologies
There are many different types of broadband access technologies, such as cable, DSL, powerline, satellite, and wireless. Each of these technologies can compete to provide similar services to consumers and businesses.

What advantages are provided by wireless broadband?
Wireless networks can cover wide geographic areas efficiently, providing the first available broadband service, or a competitive service, into many communities. Networks of varying sizes can be deployed in places where it would be prohibitively expensive to run wires. Because trenches do not have to be dug, there may be less overall disruption and visual impact to communities. Particularly for rural areas, wireless technologies may enable less burdensome service at lower cost. Wireless also has opportunities for mobile uses that other technologies do not.

What is a WISP?
Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) use radio technology in place of cable or phone lines to provide broadband service to customers. WISPs range from small businesses using off-the-shelf equipment to provide service to their neighbors, to large commercial operations serving local or regional areas. Continue to read...