Wanted: A National Broadband Policy

[Commentary] The hottest debate in high tech these days is whether America is on track, or behind, in broadband deployment and adoption, and what can be done to widen broadband's reach and beneficiaries. The next President—whether Barack Obama or John McCain—has an extraordinary opportunity to ensure that all Americans have affordable access to broadband and the skills and knowledge to benefit from it. This must start with development of a national broadband strategy, a coherent road map of policies and goals that complement and accelerate efforts in the marketplace to achieve universal adoption of affordable high-speed Internet connections. Government has an important role here, irrespective of people's political philosophy. Conservatives correctly observe that we treat telecom like a luxury, tax it like a sin, regulate it like a utility, and subsidize uncompetitive players and anachronistic technologies. Tax policies discourage broadband adoption, regulatory policies create barriers to investment, and government actions limit competitive opportunities for new entrants and the dissemination of information in the marketplace. Progressives note that most gaps in broadband deployment and adoption are defined by demographic and geographic factors that reflect market failures—an area where government can make a real difference. From promoting digital literacy to helping low-income consumers, to encouraging innovative applications in health care, energy efficiency, or telework, government can actually help. And policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels have indeed tried various means to encourage a more rapid rollout of broadband in rural areas.

The Internet Innovation Alliance on July 30 is announcing the formation of what it's calling a group of Broadband Ambassadors, which include executives of TiVo, Ciena, and VeriSign, as well as representatives of such nongovernment organizations as ConnectedNation and the Progress & Freedom Foundation. The group will help IIA raise awareness of the need for universal broadband availability. IIA is also calling on the next Administration to:

1) convene a bipartisan and inclusive group of political and economic leaders to offer recommendations for a national broadband strategy,

2) include actions by federal or state governments and recommendations for the private sector or Internet users,

3) expand the supply (and speed) of Internet connections, and

4) offer policies that address barriers to broadband demand, such as digital illiteracy, unaggregated demand, and illicit online activities.

(Irving and Mehlman are co-chairmen of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a coalition of business and nonprofit organizations committed to more widespread usage and availability of broadband through sound policy decisions. Irving served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications & Information during the Clinton Administration; Mehlman was Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy under President George W. Bush.)