Citation[]
Federal Communications Commission, Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability: Second Report ["Inquiry Concerning the Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability to All Americans in a Reasonable And Timely Fashion, and Possible Steps To Accelerate Such Deployment Pursuant to Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996"] (Aug. 3, 2000) (full-text).
Overview[]
In this Report, the FCC concluded its second inquiry into the availability of advanced telecommunications capability in the United States. In general, the Commission found that advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion, although it identified certain groups of consumers that may be particularly vulnerable to untimely access to this capability. There has been significant investment in the facilities needed to provide advanced telecommunications capability, steadily rising subscription rates for advanced services, and a proliferation of providers in the marketplace.
As with any technology, particularly in its early stages, deployment of advanced telecommunications capability is not uniform across the United States. Some consumers will gain access to that capability before others. While it is expected that economic forces will drive deployment as the market develops, it appears that consumers in certain areas of the country may be particularly vulnerable to not receiving timely access to advanced telecommunications capability.