FACTBOX-Details of U.S. broadband plan

March 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission released its National Broadband Plan, a roadmap to faster and more widespread broadband access over the next decade. The five members of the FCC are due to discuss the plan at an open meeting on Tuesday. [ID:nN15206576]

Here are some of the plan's major recommendations and goals:

SPECTRUM

* Free up to 500 megahertz of spectrum for broadband within 10 years; 300 megahertz of that spectrum should be made available for mobile broadband within five years

* Airwaves held by broadcasters and other licensees could be reallocated to wireless companies under a voluntary program that would allow licensees to receive some auction proceeds

* FCC would need expanded authority from Congress to proceed with auctions

* Some spectrum called "D-block," originally set aside for public safety, would be auctioned for commercial purposes

* Consider licensing a block of spectrum with a condition to offer free or low-cost broadband service

INTERNET SPEED

* "100 Squared Initiative" would bring download speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 100 million American households by 2020 and actual upload speeds of at least 50 Mbps

* By 2015, goal is to bring up download speeds of 50 Mbps to 100 million homes and upload speeds of 20 Mbps

* Anchor institutions would get faster speeds of about 1 gigabit per second by 2020. They include government buildings, schools, libraries and healthcare facilities

COMPETITION

* Collect, analyze, benchmark and publish detailed market-by-market information and data on broadband pricing and competition

* Disclosure requirements for broadband service providers on pricing and performance; data on actual speeds versus advertised speeds could help inform consumers and improve competition

* Comprehensive review of wholesale competition rules for fixed and mobile broadband services to ensure special access rates, terms and conditions are "just and reasonable"

* Amend video set-top box policy to allow for the innovation of a "simple and inexpensive" gateway device that connects cable programming and the Internet

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND REFORM

* Create a Connect America Fund to support affordable broadband

* Shift up to $15.5 billion over the next decade from the Universal Service Fund that currently supports phone service to low-income and rural families

* FCC recommends to Congress a one-time $9 billion infusion could help speed broadband reach in about three years

* Phases out intercarrier compensation for connecting long-distance phone calls

* Big carriers like Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N), AT&T Inc (T.N) support USF reform

PUBLIC SAFETY

* FCC is asking Congress to fund between $12 billion and $16 billion to create an emergency public safety broadband system for front-line responders over 10 years

NATIONAL PURPOSES

* Promotes telemedicine, use of electronic health records, a move that could save hospitals $371 billion and save physician practices $142 billion over 15 years

* Ease rules that act as barriers to practice medicine across state lines

* States should require electric utilities to provide consumers real-time online information on their energy use

* Urges Congress to consider legislation to encourage copyright holders to grant digital rights for educational purposes (Reporting by John Poirier; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)