When it comes to the setting of broadband policy across the United States, the bureaucrat carrying the biggest stick is the head of the Federal Communications Commission.

And Julius Genachowski has given a “shout-out” to the efforts of a North Carolina consortium – most right here in the Triangle – who have launched a drive to create a “Next Generation” network equivalent or perhaps even surpassing Google’s ultra-fast project in Kansas City.

Genachowski issued a statement in support of the N.C. team.

“Ultra-fast Internet speeds will spur innovators to develop next-generation apps and services that drive economic growth and U.S. competitiveness. Last month, I challenged providers and community leaders to establish gigabit communities nationwide,” the FCC chair said.

“The announcement by six North Carolina communities and four research universities move us forward, and I congratulate them on their important efforts.”

The FCC is attempting to speed up availability of broadband across the country. A report last September noted that 19 million Americans don’t have access to the information highway. The N.C. plan not only wants faster access for businesses and universities but also underserved areas. They want a network that bridges the digital divide with free or deeply discounted services for low-income neighborhoods, and the FCC likes such proposals.

The group recently issued  Request for Proposal published seeking private-sector partners.

It is a bold plan, one that couples fiber-optic and high-speed wireless access.

The North Carolina Next Generation Network consortium (UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, N.C. State, Wake Forest), six cities (Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, Carborro, Cary) and the Triangle J Council of Governments spelled out five goals a new network would need to reach.

For the record, here are the goals as spelled out in the RFP:

The Big Five

1. Create a gigabit, fiber network to foster innovation, drive job creation, stimulate economic growth, and serve new areas of development in the community;

a. covers those areas prioritized in each comm unity’s Schedule with a negotiated plan for building out the remainder of each community;
b. provides a comprehensive broadband infrastructure that can be expanded upon to serve other areas of the region; and
c. provides service for a minimum of five (5) years from the date of first operation.

2. Provide an open access architectural framework that maximizes wholesale and retail service delivery and competition;

a. provides non-discriminatory interconnects.

3. Provide a flexible menu of optional retail services

a. offers supported retail broadband services with a guaranteed sustained minimum schedule of service ranging from a preferred 1 gbps with other options such as high speed wireless for certain market areas as well as temporary solutions with a timeline for permanent installation of the preferred solution; supports high quality voice, data, and video services, and telehealth solutions.

4. Use public-private assets to reduce the digital divide, enhance workforce knowledge and skills, promote economic development, enhance access for anchor institutions, and serve other targeted social purposes identified by the participating municipalities;

a. provides free or heavily discounted services to specified low-income neighborhoods (see each community’s Schedule for a list of neighborhoods within each RE jurisdiction) and anchor institutions;

b. creates a working relationship between local governmental units, vendors, and non-profit organizations to fund ha rdware and educational services for low-income residents, the elderly, and other underserved populations; and

c. establishes free wireless networks in parks and public spaces in areas adjacent to the wired network.

5. Provide high speed internet service over a wired or wireless network at a substantial discount from current market prices.

a. enables low wholesale access prices that reflect underlying costs while allowing Vendor(s) to earn a return on investment commensurate with the risks involved.

If the FCC is going to be supporting this effort, the private sector is likely to take even notice.