**GAO-09-494**                      Published: May 12, 2009. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

The United States ranks 15th among the 30 democratic nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on one measure of broadband (i.e., high-speed Internet) subscribership. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has regulatory authority over broadband, and several federal programs fund broadband deployment. This congressionally requested report discusses (1) the federal broadband deployment policy, principal federal programs, and stakeholders' views of those programs; (2) how the policies of OECD nations with higher subscribership rates compare with U.S. policy; and (3) actions the states have taken to encourage broadband deployment. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed the broadband policies of the United States and other OECD nations, reviewed federal program documentation and budgetary information, and interviewed federal and state officials and industry stakeholders.

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## Topics

Telecommunications

Agricultural programsBroadbandData transmissionEconomically depressed areasFederal aid to localitiesFederal aid to statesFederal regulationsInformation technologyInternetProgram managementRegional development programsRural economic developmentStrategic planningTechnologyTechnology modernization programsTelecommunicationsTelecommunications industryTelecommunications networksWirelessPolicies and procedures