Today the Federal Communications Commission unveiled its broadband plan for the U.S. Some of its goals include reclaiming 500MHz of wireless spectrum for broadband use and making sure every American has access to 100Mbps downloadsThe FCC's broadband plan has been a long time coming, and information about its goals has been leaked over the previous months.

The plan proposes ways in which the FCC would like to see Internet access improved for U.S. citizens both from wireline and wireless prospective.

On the wireless side of things, the FCC wants to have 500MHz of spectrum on hand to provide wireless broadband services. Right now, the agency only holds onto 50MHz of spectrum. In order to increase its spectrum holdings, the government is asking existing spectrum licensees to consider giving up their spectrum. The FCC will auction it off, and give at least some of the proceeds back to the original licensee.

Who can donate their spectrum? Well, pretty much any entity that owns it. That includes television stations wireless network operators and others.

The FCC wants to have 300MHz reclaimed within the next five years, and all 500MHz reclaimed within 10 years.

Broadband will be set aside from government agencies, public service agencies, schools, and healthcare facilities. The FCC believes these facilities should have access to 1Gbps broadband, with citizens having access at home to download speeds of 100Mbps and uploads of 50Mbps.

The FCC named six main goals it wants to achieve with this plan:

1. At least 100 million U.S. homes should have affordable access to actual download speeds of at least 100Mbps and actual upload speeds of at least 50Mbps.

2. The U.S. should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation.

3. Every American should have affordable access to robust broadband service, and the means and skills to subscribe if they so choose.

4. Every American community should have affordable access to at least 1Gbps broadband service to anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and government buildings.

5. To ensure the safety of the American people, every first responder should have access to a nationwide, wireless, interoperable broadband public safety network.

6. To ensure the America leads ion the clean energy economy, every American should be able to use broadband to track and manage their real-time energy consumption.

[Source Federal Communications Commission]