SMARTER STRATEGIES

FCC Seeks Everyman's Input on Broadband

Stan Gibson | Date: 09-25-09 | Comments

The FCC uses crowdsourcing and a new online polling and idea management platform to help determine how best to spur broadband innovation.

In a move to get everyday citizens involved in the nation�s broadband networking strategy, the Federal Communications Commission has launched an online discussion forum.

The FCC was charged by the federal stimulus act passed in early 2009 with coming up with a national broadband plan and is seeking comment from citizens on the shape the plan should take. While the FCC had formerly held in-person workshops to solicit citizen participation and comment, the online initiative is geared to greatly expanding the number and range of citizen comments. The forum was launched earlier this month.

�We needed to broaden the base of people participating in FCC activities. We wanted to move away from the fact that you need a law degree to comment on FCC issues,� said Haley Van Dyck, new media specialist at the FCC in Washington, D.C.

�All comments to be submitted as part of public record.�

The FCC built the site using IdeaScale, a software tool from Survey Analytics, a Seattle maker of survey, polling and discussion software. IdeaScale was chosen because it enables a high degree of organization for all the comments.

�It�s a good way to regulate conversation,� said Van Dyck. �There are up to 20 categories in which to submit discussion�then you can vote up and down which ideas you think are best. There is a controversy meter to show whether something has been voted up or down.�

The FCC has also launched a blogging site called Blogband.gov to support the national broadband plan initiative. The blog contains entries from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and others. Both the IdeaScale survey site and the Blogband.gov site are under the umbrella of the OpenInternet.gov initiative.