[RTC List] National Broadband policy discussion

[Sean McLaughlin]

Folks -

On Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., the US Senate Committee 
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will hold a public hearing 
entitled, "Improving Internet Access to Help Small Business Compete in a 
Global Economy."  For more info - and to watch proceeding live via 
webcast:  http://sbc.senate.gov/

And here's an item from Free Press inviting participation in the 
national broadband policy discussion -

 
http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/09/25/questions-from-sen-kerry-how-can-we-connect-america/

 


    *Questions from Sen. Kerry: How Can We Connect America? 
    <http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/09/25/questions-from-sen-kerry-how-can-we-connect-america/>*

//In a guest blog post, //**/Sen. John Kerry/**// asks for your ideas to 
repair America's broadband failures and deliver a fast, open and 
affordable Internet for everyone. //**/Respond to the Senator by 
commenting in the thread below 
<http://www.freepress.net/docs/johnkerry.jpg>/**//. Senator Kerry will 
circle back to address some of your comments and report back on events 
in Washington.//

**By Sen. John Kerry**

If you talk to anyone in Washington, there's no disagreement that 
high-speed Internet access is critical to our economic competitiveness, 
and that a robust and competitive broadband market is key to an 
affordable and readily available Internet.

Sen. Kerry <http://www.savetheinternet.com/airwaves>

**Guest Blog Post by Sen. John Kerry**

Join the debate 
<http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/09/25/questions-from-sen-kerry-how-can-we-connect-america/#respond>

For small business, it is critical for the growth of their businesses 
and the creation of jobs. But everyone agreeing that something's 
important doesn't get the ball rolling in Washington, and there's been 
precious little actual progress toward improving broadband penetration 
recently.

That's why on Wednesday I will chair a hearing to explore the impact of 
a lack of adequate broadband access on our nation's small businesses. 
We'll be looking for ways to move closer to making broadband accessible 
and affordable for every American and every business. We'll hear from 
advocates for greater broadband penetration (including Free Press' own 
Ben Scott), and 2 FCC commissioners will be there, as well. You can 
watch the hearing live at http://sbc.senate.gov.

*Speak Out About Universal Access*

And, in addition to watching, please put in comments below your own 
thoughts, recommendations, and plans to improve broadband penetration. 
You spoke loudly about the need for new competition as the FCC 
considered spectrum policy. And you had great success.

So let's keep your contributions flowing as we try to get a better 
Internet in this country. What are your ideas for helping the small 
businesses and all Americans get faster Internet access?

As activists on this issue, I know you don't have to hear the 
statistics: more than 60 percent of the country does not subscribe to 
broadband service --- many because they don't have access to broadband 
Internet service or simply can't afford it. Even in my home state of 
Massachusetts, a nationwide leader in technological innovation, 
broadband still has only reached about 46 percent of the public --- and 
that's the fourth-best rate in the country!

It's almost hard to wrap your head around the fact that 7 years into 
this century, more Americans than not have either no Internet access at 
all or are still stuck on dial-up. It seems like so long ago that the 
buzzword was the "information super-highway," but much of America is 
still bouncing down a country lane. That is just unacceptable.

*Restoring America as a Broadband Leader*

America's Internet speeds lag badly behind universal standards. The 
birthplace of the personal computer and the Internet now has far worse 
broadband penetration than Europe and Japan. Without national broadband 
access, we're throwing sand in the gears of our economy, placing a 
technological ceiling of job growth, innovation and economic production.

Small businesses --- the backbone of our economy --- won't be able to 
fairly compete. The problem is especially bad in rural areas, and those 
are some of the areas most in need of economic development in this country.

Some experts estimate that universal broadband would add $500 billion to 
our economy and create 1.2 million jobs. We need to make universal 
deployment a national priority to keep America hooked into the 
increasingly fast global economy, but we can't get that deployment 
without competition in the broad-band market.

*Let's Start the Conversation Here and Now*

We need a national broadband strategy with a strong federal regulatory 
framework to encourage competition; companies won't get there on their 
own. Competition spurs innovation, enhances service and reduces prices. 
And while we're at it, we need to make efficient and widely available 
use of the spectrum, a valuable public asset. Much of our spectrum is 
underutilized, shelved and hoarded by selfish incumbents. Revisions to 
our spectrum policy must break open the locked portions of our spectrum 
to maximize that national resource. From drafting "white spaces" 
legislation to supporting fair spectrum policy, I've advanced and 
supported a list of measures designed to correct these market failures 
and increase broadband access.

It's way past time for the country to get serious about this. President 
Bush has promised national broadband by 2007, and we are inexcusably, 
tremendously, scandalously short of that goal. Previous generations put 
a toaster in every home and a car in every driveway as signs of economic 
progress. To stay competitive, we should strive to do the same with 
nationwide broadband. Our economy, our businesses and our families are 
counting on us to deliver.

So, remember to put your recommendations below, and I'll try to circle 
back after the hearing with another post about what I learned at the 
hearing and from all of you.

 

=  =  =  =  = 
Timothy Karr
Campaign Director
Free Press
1.201.533.8838
www.freepress.net <http://www.freepress.net/>
www.savetheinternet.com <http://www.savetheinternet.com>
www.stopbigmedia.com <http://www.stopbigmedia.com>


//Reform Media. Transform Democracy.//

 

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