The Federal Communications Commission's massive proposal to make the nation's Internet service faster and more affordable will touch every part of the telecom and technology industries, bestowing benefits on some sectors and putting new pressure on others.

The FCC says 90 percent of U.S. homes, about 100 million, should have affordable Internet service that's around 10 times faster than what most Americans have today. The problem that needs to be fixed: the United States is 18th worldwide in average Internet connection speed, and the country is making little progress toward being more competitive. Growth in U.S. Internet speed is about half of the worldwide average with countries like Romania boasting of faster service.

As is the case with any major government initiative, look for some clear winners and losers. For the FCC and the Obama administration, the primary winner is the American consumer. Other potential benefactors are small businesses—innovative startups and established players that already are trying to expand broadband stand to benefit. And wireless companies in particular have a lot to gain. But the FCC also proposes injecting more competition in certain areas such as set-top box manufacturers.

"The goals of the plan are very bold and heartwarming…but in order to make that omelet, a lot of eggs will have to be cracked, says Brett Tarnutzer, a principal with telecom consultant KB Enterprises LLC in Washington. "The real winners will be the new innovators that find new ways to bring broadband to the unserved and underserved American people, and the likely losers are the incumbents who haven't already done so."

Startups and Tech Biggies Win

If you're looking for a company that stands to benefit from the government's plan to make fast Internet service available for every American, start with Florida-based Spectrum Bridge Inc. The closely held firm helps wireless companies and equipment makers find limited available airwaves needed to access the Web through mobile devices.

One goal of the FCC's plan is to provide wireless carriers more air space to operate. Google, Microsoft Corp., and Dell Inc. all showed interest in recent years in tapping unused TV airwaves for wireless Internet. Tarnutzer expects those companies to be active in helping shape the FCC plan once Congress takes it up.

Another company poised to benefit: Akamai Technologies Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Web-traffic firm that helps companies such as Netflix Inc. deliver video online.

The FCC wants Congress to create a more competitive environment for video services and set-top boxes, those devices that help bring cable and satellite TV into homes but could be used to access the Internet. Clearly, the companies that dominate the set-top box business, Motorola Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc.'s Scientific Atlanta, don't benefit from a government edict to increase competition in their field.