By Ron Thaniel
June 29, 2009

The U.S. Conference of Mayors Transportation and Communications Vice Chair for Communications Policy Tallahassee Mayor John Marks convened a special workshop on June 13 to discuss implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and the Federal Communications Commission's plan to improve broadband access and adaptation through the National Broadband Plan.

Given broadband's importance to economic growth, job creation, and competitiveness of cities and their metro areas, the workshop also showcased numerous best practices and measures to facilitate access to underserved communities.

Gerry Lederer, with the Washington (DC) law firm of Miller & Van Eaton, P.L.L.C., provided an in-depth review of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) Broadband Technology and Opportunities Program (BTOP). Lederer also discussed ARRA's instructions to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop a national broadband plan within one year (February 2010).

San Francisco's Chief Information Officer and Executive Director for the Department of Telecommunications and Information Services Chris Vein provided the mayors with numerous broadband best practices including connecting community health clinics with telemedicine hubs for real time care from doctors and specialists.

Dr. Jabari Simama with the Alliance for Digital Equality continued the best practice discussion with a focus ensuring affordable broadband access to underserved communities.

ARRA is providing $4.7 billion to expand broadband services to unserved and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies.