In June of 2010 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Data Innovation Initiative. It was the agency's latest action to modernize and streamline how it collects, uses, and disseminates data. With this launch, the FCC continues the changes that were made as part of a comprehensive reform effort that is improving the agency’s fact-based, data-driven decision-making. To lead the Data Innovation Initiative, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski established a new, cross-bureau data team, led by the agency’s first-ever Chief Data Officer.
"Smart policies depend on quality data, and public data should be accessible to the public in meaningful ways using modern digital tools," said Chairman Genachowski. "The Data Innovation Initiative will accelerate the FCC’s progress toward becoming a model for excellence in 21st century government. Building on the exemplary work of our strategy planning and new media teams, I expect that the data team will both streamline and open up our data processes, institutionalizing positive change at the FCC."
As part of the Data Innovation Initiative, several bureaus and offices have initiated "zero-baseline" Data Reviews to examine their data practices has released public notices to seek input on what current data collections should be eliminated, what new ones should be added, and how existing collections can be improved. The public notices also included inventories of the Bureaus’ current data collection. The notices grew out of an agency-wide survey led by the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP).
The launch of the Data Innovation Initiative, the appointment of the data team, and the release of the public notices follows other data innovations recently launched at the FCC, which include improving the search on ECFS, making more information machine-readable at https://www.fcc.gov/data, tools that allow consumers to test the performance of their broadband connections that can be found at www.broadband.gov, an interactive Spectrum Dashboard, and collaboration with the NTIA that produced a National Broadband Map.