This week the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) held its fourth meeting where members heard multiple reports and recommendations to improve broadband deployment in rural areas. The BDAC is an advisory board within the FCC that was created by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to make policy recommendations to close the “digital divide” between rural and urban America. In his opening remarks, Chairman Pai asserted closing the digital divide is a top priority at the FCC.
The BDAC made a number of recommendations to close the divide by incentivizing private companies to invest in broadband infrastructure in rural areas. The BDAC’s recommended approach is to remove regulatory barriers at the state and local level, streamline the federal siting process, and ensure competitive access to broadband infrastructure. The meeting made headlines on Thursday after Axios.com reported San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo resigned from the BDAC after the panel recommended changes to municipal codes that were more favorable to internet-service providers.