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Implementing the National Broadband Plan

The Benton Foundation is tracking the implementation of the National Broadband Plan at the Federal Communications Commission, Congress and in the Administration. Learn more

Universal Affordable Broadband For All Americans

America is on the verge of vast new broadband-driven digital transformation that promises to make life more livable, businesses more productive, jobs more plentiful, and the Internet more accessible. However, at the dawn of this digital age, those who could benefit the most from this economically empowering technology are also those most likely to be left without access because of where they live or how much money they make.

As Congress puts universal service reform at the top of its telecom policy agenda, this page will provide a one-stop collection of papers and speeches advancing a new vision for Universal Service -- for making broadband as universal as telephone service is today and a pathway for progress. This effort will embrace the premise that Universal Broadband access is now as important to the advancement of the American ideal of equal opportunity in the 21st century as universal access to education and universal phone service was in the last.

New Research

Policies to Increase Broadband Adoption at Home Rob Atkinson. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. November 05, 2009.
Next Generation Connectivity: A review of broadband Internet transitions and policy from around the world Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. October 2009.
GAO: Current Broadband Measures Have Limitations Mark Goldstein. Government Accountability Office. October 9, 2009.
The World in 2009: ICT facts and figures International Telecommunication Union. October 2009.
Broadband Quality Study 2009 Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford and the University of Oviedo’s Department of Applied Economics. Sponsored by Cisco. October 1, 2009.
National Broadband Plan -- A Midterm Report Federal Communications Commission staff. Sept 2009.
Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study American Library Association. September 2009.
Broadband Internet’s Value for Rural America US Department of Agriculture.
August 2009.
2009 Report on Internet Speeds in All 50 States Speed Matters/Communications Workers of America. August 2009
Home Broadband Adoption 2009 John Horrigan. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. June 2009.
US 20th in broadband penetration Strategy Analytics. June 2009.
Bringing Broadband to Rural America: Report on a Rural Broadband Strategy Federal Communications Commission. May 27, 2009.
Broadband Around the World Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. May 2009.
Libraries Use Broadband Internet Service to Serve High Need Communities Erica Pastore and Everett Henderson. Institute of Museum and Library Services. March 2009.
Rural Broadband At A Glance Peter Stenberg, Sarah Low. US Department of Agriculture. March 2009.
Connectivity Scorecard Leonard Waverman. Nokia Siemens Networks. February 2009.
High-Speed Services for Internet Access: Status as of December 31, 2007 Federal Communications Commission. January 2009.
A Plan to Extend Super-fast Broadband Connections to All Americans. John Windhausen, Jr. Century Foundation. January 2009.
Building a 21st Century Broadband Superhighway Benjamin Lennett and Sascha Meinrath. New America Foundation. January 2009
The Digital Road to Recovery: A Stimulus Plan to Create Jobs, Boost Productivity and Revitalize America Robert Atkinson, Daniel Castro and Stephen Ezell. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. January 07, 2009
Down Payment on Our Digital Future: Stimulus Policies for the 21st-Century Economy Free Press. S. Derek Turner. December 17, 2008
An Action Plan for America Using Technology and innovation to Address our Nation's Critical Challenges. Jonathan Rintels for the Benton Foundation. November 2008.
Broadband and Technology Investments: Policy Options for 2009 Progressive States Network. 2008
High-Speed Broadband Access for All Kids: Breaking through the Barriers State Educational Technology Directors Association. June 2008.
The Future of the Internet Economy and The Future of the Internet Economy: A statistical profile. Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development. June 2008.
FCC revises Broadband Data Collection and Definition Federal Communications Commission. June 2008.
OECD Updates International Broadband Comparison May 2008.
Special Report: Broadband in America Leichtman Research. May 2008.
One in Five U.S. Households Has Never Used E-mail Parks Associates. May 2008.
US broadband penetration jumps 300 percent since 2002 Scarborough Research. April 2008.
New survey finds gaps in U.S. broadband Tellabs. March 2008.
FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Services for Internet Access Federal Communications Commission. March 2008.
Broadband Adoption: Patterns, Behaviors, and Implications Pew Internet & American Life Project. March 2008.
Deployment of Broadband To Rural America US Internet Industry Association. March 2008.
The Economic Impact of Stimulating Broadband Nationally Connected Nation. February 21, 2008
Networked Nation: Broadband in America, 2007 National Telecommunications and Information Administration. January 31, 2008.
A Blueprint for Big broadband John Windhausen Jr., EDUCAUSE. January 2008.
Connectivity Scorecard Leonard Waverman, London Business School. January 2008.
Ubiquity Requires Redundancy: The Case for Federal Investment in Broadband Mark Lloyd, Center for American Progress. January 2008.
Framing a National Broadband Policy Robert D. Atkinson, President, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. January 2008.
Universal Affordable Broadband for All Americans Jim Kohlenberger, Benton Foundation. December 2007
Measuring Broadband: Improving Communications Policymaking through Better Data Collection Kenneth Flamm, Amy Friedlander, John Horrigan, and William Lehr. November 2007
The Role of Competition in a National Broadband Policy Rob Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. October 19, 2007
The Case For Universal Broadband in America: Now! Jonathan Rintels, Center for Creative Voices in Media. October 10, 2007.
Shooting the Messenger S. Derek Turner, Free Press. July 2007.
Home Broadband Adoption 2007 John B. Horrigan and Aaron Smith. Pew Internet & American Life Project. June 2007.
Speed Matters: A Report on Internet Speeds in All 50 States. Communications Workers of America. July 2007.
The Effects of Broadband Deployment on Output and Employment June 2007.
The Case for a National Broadband Policy by Robert Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation June 2007.
The Broadband Fact Book by the Internet Innovation Alliance May 2007
Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs Lennard G. Kruger & Angele A. Gilroy, Congressional Research Service, April 2007.
Universal Service and the Disability Community: The Need for Ubiquitous Broadband Deployment by Frank Bowe, Hofstra University
Time for Change: Transforming Funding for Broadband Universal Service by Richard D. Taylor, Pennsylvania State University
Universal Service and Rural America by Sharon Strover, University of Texas at Austin
Strategies for Repairing the Universal Service Fund by Rob Frieden, Pennsylvania State University
Regaining the Lead: Universal Service for a Globally Competitive America by Jorge Schement, Pennsylvania State University
Assessing Broadband in America: OECD and ITIF Broadband Rankings by Daniel K. Correa, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
OECD Broadband Statistics to December 2006 by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
“From all my teachers I have grown wise, and from my students more than anyone else:” What Lessons can the U.S. learn from Broadband Policies in Europe? by Amit M. Schejter, Pennsylvania State University.
Universal access in the information economy: Tracking policy innovations abroad by Krishna Jayakar and Harmeet Sawhney, Pennsylvania State University and Indiana University.
Pipe Dreams? Prospects for next generation broadband deployment in the UK by the Broadband Stakeholder Group, the UK government’s advisory group on broadband and digital convergence.
Helping Our Children Succeed: What's Broadband got to do with it? by The Childern's Partnership
E-Rate: 10 Years of Connecting Kids and Community by Education and Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC) and the national Coalition for Technology in Education and Training (NCTET)
Libraries as Universal Service Providers by Nancy Kranich, KS Consultants and Fomer President, American Library Association
The Future of Universal Service Fund Support for Organizations: Schools, Libraries and Rural Health Care Providers by Heather E. Hudson, Professor and Director, Communications Technology Management Program, University of San Francisco
Achieving Universal Broadband: Policies for Stimulating Deployment and Demand by the Alliance for Public Technology
Eight Bold Steps to a National Broadband Strategy by Jim Baller & Casey Lide
America Needs a Fiber-Based National Broadband Policy Now by Jim Baller & Casey Lide
Speed Matters: Affordable High Speed Internet for All by the Communications Workers of America
Universal Service in 2006 by Mark Lloyd, Center for American Progress, August 2006
Broadband Reality Check: The FCC Ignores America's Digital Divide by Free Press, Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America

Recent Speeches, Editorials & Articles

Mr. Obama's Internet Agenda. New York Times Editorial Staff. December 16, 2008.
Addressing the Economy, Obama Pledges Universal Broadband President-elect Barack Obama. December 6, 2008.
Obama's Manna E.J. Dionne Jr. Washington Post. December 5, 2008.
A Broadband Action Plan for America Charles Benton. Benton Foundation. December 2, 2008.
Diverse group calls for national broadband policy December 2, 2008.
A Public Interest Agenda for Media and Technology Free Press. December 2, 2008.
Look to the Internet to fight poverty Elaine Kamarck. Boston Globe. December 1, 2008.
Broadband for Everyone, Everywhere Charles Benton, Benton Foundation. September 28, 2008.
We need a national broadband strategy FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein. September 22, 2008.
Why Broadband Matters Charles Benton. September 15, 2008.
Time for a Post-Partisan Broadband Debate Robert Atkinson, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. September 10, 2008.
Wanted: A National Broadband Policy Bruce Mehlman and Larry Irving. BusinessWeek. July 2008.
The Future of Universal Service is Broadband Charles Benton. June 23, 2008.
The Debate We Should Be Having Harold Feld. June 18, 2008.
No One Wants Fiber to Every Home Geoff Daily. June 18, 2008.
The Next President Has To Be The First Broadband President Geoff Daily. June 16, 2008.
Michael Copps at the Broadband Policy Summit June 12, 2008.
Accelerating the Great Broadband Migration Charles Benton, Benton Foundation. June 11, 2008.
The Cure for America's Internet Timothy Karr. Free Press. June 5, 2008.
We need a national broadband policy Ron Sims. Seattle Times. May 27, 2008.
Broadband: other countries do it better, but how? Nate Anderson. ars technica. May 12, 2008.
Battle of the broadband Editorial. Los Angeles Times. May 8, 2008.
USF: Behind the Times Geoff Daily. May 6, 2008.
Which Broadband and IT Vision for America? Robert Atkinson. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. April 13, 2008.
Broadening Broadband. Editorial. New York Times. April 2008.
Commissioner Adelstein: Make broadband 'a higher priority' FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. February 2008.
U.S. in the broadband slow lane Mark Boslet and John Boudreau, San Jose Mercury News. November 22, 2007
Inouye Pushes Senate to Move Broadband Mapping Bill Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii). November 15, 2007.
Universal Service Fund necessary for rural connectivity Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.). October 16, 2007
Broadband: What's All the Fuss About? John B. Horrigan, Pew Internet & American Life Project. October 17, 2007.
Our New Sputnik Moment Charles Benton in The Hill. October 3, 2007
Why It Will Be Hard to Close the Broadband Divide John B. Horrigan, Pew Internet and American Life Project. August 1, 2007.
Broadband Baloney FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell. Wall Street Journal. July 24, 2007
The French Connections. Paul Krugman, New York Times. July 23, 2007.
Proposal by Qwest would help spread of high-speed Internet June 2007
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin called for use of Universal Service Fund support to encourage the roll-out of high-speed Internet service in rural areas. June 19, 2007
Time To Refocus The Universal Service Fund by John Mahoney. June 2007.
Kentucky effort on broadband hailed as a model from the Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal. June 11, 2007.
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell at Broadband Policy Summit of 2007
Bring On The Exaflood! by Bruce Mehlman and Larry Irving. May 24, 2007.
USDA Announces New Proposed Rules for Broadband in Rural Communities
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein's testimony before House Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship May 9, 2007
We're stuck in the slow lane of the information highway by the San Jose Mercury News May 7, 2007.
Why the U.S. Doesn’t Measure Up Ben Scott, Free Press April 24, 2007
FCC Commissioner Copps Call for National Broadband Strategy April 23, 2007
A "100 Megabit Nation" by 2015 by the Fiber-to-the-Home Council. March 2007
Ten Principles for Digital Excellence Chicago Digital Access Alliance. March 2007
America Suffers from the Lack of an Overarching Broadband Plan Rep Ed Markey. March 14, 2007
Present and Future of Universal Service Fund Testimony of FCC Commissioner Michael Copps before Senate Commerce Committee. March 1, 2007
Consensus: e-Rate a success -- but still needed from e-School News. March 1, 2007.
A 21st Century American Right: Universal Broadband by Charles Benton at the APT Susan G. Hadden Awards Luncheon, National Press CLub, February 9, 2007
America's Internet Disconnect by FCC Commissioner Michael Copps
Top-Quality, Universal Broadband Essential by San Jose Mercury News editorial staff

Broadband Highlights

Universal Affordable Broadband for All Americans
Read more about how the benefits of universally available broadband are enormous for Families, Rural Americans, the economy, Telecommuters, and more
Learn more about Benton's Future of Universal Service project

What policymakers are saying about universal broadband

"We must upgrade our communications infrastructure in every corner of this country. And we must do a better job of making innovative communications technologies more widely available and affordable to everyone. All of our citizens should have the opportunity to maximize their potential through communications, no matter where they live or what challenges they face. To promote the communications needs of everyone in this country, we should focus on improving access to broadband services, modernizing universal service, and protecting diversity, competition, and localism in our media."

-- Jonathan Adelstein Feb 1, 2007. Testimony before Senate Commerce Committee
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-270200A1.doc

"We need to undertake a multipronged approach, because we have terrible data. We need a national broadband strategy with thresholds, and we need to create incentives for innovation and competition. We also need to commit some USF (funding) for this as well."

-- Adelstein at Senate Commerce Committee hearing Feb 1, 2007 as reported by TelecomWeb -- "Senate Committee Grills Full FCC Panel"
http://www.telecomweb.com/tnd/21518.html

Broadband Facts

Universal Broadband would create 1.2 million new higher paying jobs

= Benton Foundation-funded research