WASHINGTON – The Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI) based at the Columbia Business School in New York will serve as an outside expert in reviewing projected deployment of new and upgraded networks to help inform the FCC’s efforts in developing the National Broadband Plan. CITI will provide an analysis of the public statements of companies as to their future plans to deploy and upgrade broadband networks as well as an historical evaluation of the relationship between previous such announcements and actual deployment. “Broadband has the power to improve the lives of all Americans by creating jobs, spurring innovation and investment, and enhancing public safety,” Chairman Julius Genachowski said. “As we begin the tremendous task of creating a National Broadband Plan, high-quality data on the state of broadband networks will help to inform and enlighten the activities of the agency. CITI’s external review of network deployments will help provide the foundation for smart, datadriven decision-making. I appreciate CITI’s assistance and look forward to seeing the results.” Eli Noam, the Director of CITI and a Columbia Business School professor, said, “Too often, the debates over internet policy have been driven by narrow agendas, with facts used selectively as ammunition rather than enlightenment. By focusing on data analysis -- of investment plans and deployment figures of upgraded broadband infrastructure, especially in this century -- CITI looks forward to helping the FCC to change the past culture and develop a National Broadband Plan grounded in facts.” “A comprehensive assessment of these plans will be enormously helpful given our short timetable,” said Blair Levin, who is coordinating the FCC’s National Broadband Plan. “It is essential that the National Broadband Plan consider not just the networks in place today, but the networks likely to be in place in the near future.” Consistent with Chairman Genachowski’s recent public statements regarding an open and transparent National Broadband Plan process, the results of CITI’s review will be made publicly available. CITI has established an e-mail account to receive information about broadband plans and invites the public, broadband service providers and others with relevant information to send it to CITIbroadbandgsb.columbia.edu.   Word PDF