The Future of Broadband Is Here Today - And You're Going to Miss It

[Commentary] While the various federal agencies and Congress discuss, pontificate and wage war over the future of broadband, here's a little secret. That vision they have of getting 100 Mbps service to 100 million homes by 2020? Several U.S. markets have already gone way beyond it to deliver the future of broadband today.

In many respects, Washington insiders determined to get the U.S to a better place when it comes to broadband are held back by large telcos, forced to fight last century's telecom wars. But while Washington debates, many markets miss out. Those who want better broadband should take their lessons from some of the cities who have successfully deployed their own networks. While the Federal Communications Commission explores a third way on a path made needlessly longer by national corporate interests, local markets are delivering broadband's future faster with a fourth way. Congress and the FCC could do the U.S. a world of good by keying in on this possibly better way, and by changing how we think about the task of bringing true broadband to communities that need and want it. Champions of free market forces may want to consider the merits of this approach to broadband that Communities United for Broadband finds effective in calling small-town and urban America to action.

The principles of the approach are as follows:
1) Our community is a free market.
2) As a market, our businesses, local government, institutions and individuals collectively spend significant dollars on communication services.
3) Despite our spending as a market, we have un-met broadband needs and unfulfilled dreams.
4) Subsequently, we will use our purchasing power and political clout to get the broadband we need and want through private- and/or public-sector solutions.
5) Key to the success of our free market strategy is our ability to encourage, facilitate or create competitors in our market, which we will do.