FCC visits SF on Broadband Listening Tour

Recently, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski visited San Francisco to learn more about how the City of San Francisco is using municipal  fiber to expand access to residents at Valencia Gardens and in other low income communities throughout San Francisco. ZFellow Michael McCarthy, a member of the city of San Francisco’s Department of Technology, played a key role in hosting the event.

The Chairman’s visit to San Francisco was part of a “listening tour” about best practices in how to use and expand access to broadband. The FCC has been charged by Congress to release a national broadband plan by February 2010.

The Chairman was impressed with how the City of San Francisco is addressing the needs of the residents of Valencia Gardens and how it is rolling out programs in other low income communities throughout San Francisco. The fiber connection at Valencia Gardens is allowing residents to have wired speeds of over 40mbps. In addition to Internet access, the Chairman and his staff learned about a wide variety of technology training and support programs as presented by community leaders and funders.

Video of FCC Visit to San Francisco

FCC National Broadband Plan

San Francisco Department of Technology