America's Internet Disconnect

AMERICA'S INTERNET DISCONNECT
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps]
[Commentary] America's record in expanding broadband communication is so poor that it should be viewed as an outrage by every consumer and businessperson in the country. Too few of us have broadband connections, and those who do pay too much for service that is too slow. It's hurting our economy, and things are only going to get worse if we don't do something about it. There are concrete steps government must take now to reverse our slide into communications mediocrity. To begin with, the Federal Communications Commission must face up to the problem, adopt a real world definition of broadband, cease assuming that if one person in a Zip code area has access to broadband then everyone does, and start collecting data on pricing. The FCC needs to start working to lower prices and introduce competition. We must start meeting our legislative mandate to get advanced telecommunications out to all Americans at reasonable prices; make new licensed and unlicensed spectrum available; authorize "smart radios" that use spectrum more efficiently; and do a better job of encouraging "third pipe" technologies such as wireless and broadband over power lines. And we should recommend steps to Congress to ensure the FCC's ability to implement long-term solutions. We need a broadband strategy for America. The solution to our broadband crisis must ultimately involve public-private initiatives like those that built the railroad, highway and telephone systems. Combined with an overhaul of our universal service system to make sure it is focusing on the needs of broadband, this represents our best chance at recapturing our leadership position. It seems plain enough that our present policies aren't working. Inattention and muddling through may be the path of least resistance, but they should not and must not represent our national policy on this critical issue.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR200611...
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