Clyburn Releases Final Version of #Solutions2020 Call to Action Plan

during a conference at the Georgetown Law School in October (see 1610190044). The FCC sought comments, filed in January (see 1701120045). “The work of ensuring affordable access to communications to all Americans may or may not ever be fully realized, but we should never fail to try,” the document said. “Twenty years ago, an average family of four paid for two fixed telephone lines and dial-up Internet access. Now that same family MAY have a fixed phone in the home accompanied by a broadband internet connection, along with two or more mobile voice and data lines. This means that the number of services purchased in order to keep up with the Joneses, has risen in cost so much, that for the lowest-income Americans who can barely afford one device or service, the digital divide continues to widen.” Recommendations include that the FCC must do better job of engaging with Tribal governments. “The FCC’s Office of Native Affairs should be empowered as a standalone Office with its own budget that is sufficient to proactively engage with Tribes on important issues of communications policy,” the call to action said. Clyburn backs passage a number of bills, including Mobile Now on spectrum. The commission should set aside more spectrum for unlicensed use, the plan said. “Despite the amount of spectrum that the FCC has auctioned over the years, there are too many areas in this country -- most notably rural areas and low income urban communities -- that do not have the number of choices for broadband providers that most Americans enjoy,” the plan read. “Unlicensed spectrum has and must continue to play a role in helping to close this gap.” Clyburn released the final version at the SouthEast Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors conference Monday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.