Better Communities through Better Broadband

[Commentary] In ways that we have not seen in the past, policy makers in Washington now seem to understand that we live in the age of the gigabit. And it increasingly appears that those policy makers understand that the engagement of local communities in our collective broadband future is essential in this gigabit era. Local leaders recognize, too, that there are no simple off-the-shelf solutions that will work everywhere -- that every community has its own particular resources, needs, and priorities, and that aggressive, proactive leadership is essential to getting the best solution for their constituents. In some communities, collaborating with willing incumbents may work well. In other communities, a public-private partnership with a new entrant may be preferable. In still others, the community may find that it has to develop a network of its own. Buoyed by the efforts of Google and approximately 100 rural towns and cities that have deployed gigabit networks, local governments -- particularly in rural areas -- are concluding that they must take charge of their own futures, and that with so much at stake, they can no longer wait for unwilling or incapable incumbents to get around to them. As we look toward the states’ legislative sessions, we are hopeful that our elected officials will recognize the value of enabling, rather than impairing, their localities -- and that local Internet choice can serve as the key to innovation and next-generation networking.

[Joanne Hovis and Jim Baller our co-founders of the Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC). Hovis also serves on Benton Foundation's Board of Directors]