The Federal Communications Commission approved upgrades on Thursday that would let schools and libraries tap into unused fiber optic networks to speed up their connections to the Internet.

The FCC voted to upgrade and modernize the E-Rate program, the portion of the Universal Service Fund designated to provide schools and universities with fast, affordable broadband Internet access. E-Rate participants may now make use of "dark fiber" networks currently in place across the country.

"Today’s Order is fundamentally about empowering schools and libraries. It gives schools and libraries more choices for broadband, enabling them to pick among the full range of options in the marketplace, including leasing low-cost capacity from fiber optic networks that have already been deployed but are not yet being used, and lighting this dark fiber," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.

"The goal is – and I believe the result will be – more bang for the E-rate buck; faster speeds at lower costs. This is a major step toward the Broadband Plan’s goal of affordable access to super-high-speed broadband at anchor institutions in every community across the country."

Internet service providers have resisted allowing schools to make use of dark fiber lest they emerge as competing provider of Internet access to local communities. The Commission is considering letting schools provide the surrounding neighborhood with Internet access once the students go home through a program known as "School Spots."

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the use of unused television spectrum known as "white spaces." Lawmakers, industry and advocacy groups hailed the announcement as the start of a new wave of innovation in wireless technologies.

The unused airwaves between television channels are low frequency and able to travel over much larger distances than traditional wireless networks, earning them the moniker "WiFi on Steroids." A single access point would be capable of providing wireless broadband access to users within a 50-mile radius.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski predicted the white spaces would become a "powerful platform for innovation" and said the U.S. would be the first country to deploy the technology. He also cited an analyst's estimate that the release could eventually add more than $7 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

"As compared to the airwaves we released for unlicensed use in 1985, this 'white spaces' spectrum is far more robust – traveling longer distances and through walls, making the potential for this unlicensed spectrum much greater," Genachowski said.

“Releasing unused spectrum is a sure-fire way to promote innovation and provide low-cost internet to folks in Western Massachusetts and across the country,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in statement. “Today’s announcement from the FCC is a critical step towards a robust wireless future that will benefit all Americans.” Read more...

Waxman may move forward with a bill that seems to have enough support to pass the House, three aides said.

The Pentagon official in charge of the military's cyber unit on Thursday said the government should create a "secure zone" for federal agencies and critical private sector industries to protect them from potential attacks.

General Keith Alexander, who heads the U.S. Cyber Command, told reporters a network sectioned off from the rest of the Internet is probably inevitable for systems crucial to national security. 

"You could come up with what I would call a secure zone, a protected zone, that you want government and critical infrastructure to work in that part," Alexander said. "At some point it's going to be on the table. The question is how are we going to do it."

Alexander said setting up such a network would be technically straightforward, but difficult to sell to the businesses involved. Explaining the measure to the public would also be a challenge, he added.

The U.S. Cyber Command chief testified in front of the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday to detail his command's structure and plans to secure military networks from foreign hackers.

Gary Locke warned about the increasing number of foreign governments restricting the flow of information.

Verizon will follow the lead of competitor AT&T by introducing its own version of tiered pricing for wireless plans, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The announcement comes as the next wave of fourth-generation wireless devices is growing in popularity and consumers are increasingly using smartphones to connect to the Web, adding to the demands on carriers' networks. Verizon chief executive Ivan Seidenberg said his firm would likely roll out the new pricing over the next six months.

"We didn't need to be first on tiered pricing," Seidenberg said at an investor conference on Thursday. "We're not sure we agree yet with how they [AT&T] valued the data."

He said Verizon would love to carry the Apple iPhone on its 4G networks bu declined to speculate on when the phone would be available to Verizon subscribers.

"At some point, Apple will get with the program," he said.

Seidenberg also spoke out against the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to reclassify broadband access as a telecom service, calling it a bad idea. Verizon released a joint proposal with Google earlier this summer for open Internet regulations; that proposal has attracted a great deal of criticism from net neutrality advocates but appears to have become the new baseline for negotiations between stakeholders, industry and the FCC.

The advocacy group Free Press is taking its battle over net neutrality to the streets - and the waffle irons. Activists from the group showed up outside Federal Communications Commission headquarters this morning to serve FCC employees breakfast and urge not to "waffle" on net neutrality.

“We’ve tried all the traditional methods, including petitions, comments and phone calls, to tell the FCC to protect Net Neutrality, so this time we decided to resort to tastier tactics,” said Craig Aaron, managing director of Free Press. “The public can’t afford to wait much longer for the FCC to stop waffling and move forward on enacting real Net Neutrality rules to ensure that the Internet remains open for everyone.”

The FCC is not expected to tackle net neutrality at today's open meeting, focusing instead on freeing up unusued TV spectrum known as "white spaces" for use by unlicensed wireless devices. The Commission will also vote on a proposal to upgrade the portion of the Universal Service Fund directed towards schools and libraries. The FCC recently asked for another round of public comment on net neutrality proposals, indicating that immediate action is not likely.

“The longer the FCC ponders the politics of Net Neutrality, the longer the public is left unprotected,” Aaron said. “Chairman Genachowski has the backing of the president, congressional leadership and, most importantly, millions and millions of Internet users. We all need him to stop waffling and start getting to work.”

Good morning!

Driving the Day: The Federal Communications Commission is holding its September open meeting on Thursday, where commissioners are expected to approve long-delayed regulations for unlicensed wireless devices seeking to make use of unused television spectrum known as "white spaces." Lawmakers and tech industry officials are urging the FCC to finalize the rules so devices can take advantage of what has been dubbed “Wi-Fi on steroids."

Broadcasters have expressed concerns regarding possible disruptions to TV signals or wireless microphones, but if approved the move would be the first release of spectrum for unlicensed use in 25 years. The FCC is also expected to approve an upgrade of the E-Rate program, the portion of the Universal Service Fund directed towards schools and libraries. E-Rate participants will soon be able to take advantage of unused fiber optic cable to increase the speed of their broadband connections. http://bit.ly/boaiGp

Broadband providers release survey undermining net-neutrality rules

Broadband for America, a group for major Internet service providers, released a report on Thursday that seeks to abet their view that net-neutrality rules are not necessary. According to the report, more than 75 percent of respondents said that "the Internet is currently working well" and over 55 percent said that "the federal government should not regulate the Internet at all." Net-neutrality proponents would counter that rules for broadband service providers would not aspire to "regulate the Internet." Rather, they seek to protect consumers by regulating the on-ramp to the Internet and reining in the phone and cable companies who control Internet connections.

Study says protecting net neutrality good for the economy

Meanwhile a study from New York University School of Law's Institute for Policy Integrity argues the Google-Verizon proposal for managing the Internet would create more economic uncertainty than the net neutrality principles laid out by the Federal Communications Commission last year. The report argues any move away from net neutrality may be irreversable in the future, while on the other hand any strict guidelines imposed by the FCC could be relaxed at a later date. The authors emphasize that ISPs should have to seek government approval before changing their pricing policies. The president of a trade association representing broadband providers called the study "silly" and noted that the overwhelming majority of broadband users are satisfied with their service. http://bit.ly/98ASKU

Eyeing Commerce chairmanship, Stearns gives Boehner a big check. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) presented House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) with a check for $300,000 at a fundraiser this week hosted by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. The move was seen as a signal Stearns is serious about taking over as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce if the Republicans should re-take the House this November. Half of the money came from Stearns' PAC, while the other half was raised at the event, which came with a suggested contribution of $5,000. http://bit.ly/a0zHsR

Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) has stepped up his campaign to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee should the GOP win the House this November, but some Republicans see the late-game effort as too little too late. 

Stearns presented House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) with $300,000 at a fund-raising event on Tuesday night. Half of the money came from Stearns' political action committee; the other half was raised at the dinner. 

The fundraising event, hosted by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA), had a suggested contribution of $5,000. 

Stearns, ranking member of the House Communications Subcommittee, made his aspiration to lead the full committee known among staffers and lobbyists weeks ago.

“My focus is on gaining the majority in the House and making Leader Boehner Speaker of the House," Stearns told the Hill. "Toward that end, I am helping our candidates and my party, and advancing our ideas.’’

For Stearns, however, boosting his fundraising credibility just ahead of the elections could be a challenge. Fundraising is a major consideration for House Republican steering committee that could vote on the next Energy and Commerce chair.

At Tuesday's dinner, Stearns accompanied his fundraising dollars with a complimentary speech about Boehner, who gets five votes on the steering committee, more influence than any other member.   

He lauded Boehner's record and personal narrative, including his upbringing, Ohio roots, and success as the former president of a small business.

But after Stearns presented money and praise, the response to his panoply highlighted why he could face an uphill battle to lead the committee.