Dear USBBC: Let's Build a Bold National Broadband Strategy Together

[Commentary] To the US Broadband Coalition and all the state-level coalitions that are trying to bring together broadband players around the same table: we've come a long way, but we've a long way to go. We can't afford to continue caricaturing those with differing views from our own as being bloodthirsty capitalists or idealistic socialists. We must acknowledge that in order to achieve consensus no one side is going to be able to get everything they want in exactly the way they want it. Instead what's needed is to have everyone involved in this effort examine what it is they really want. What's most important to you, not in terms of specific legislation but instead in terms of the results. So for deployers that could mean getting more capital available to support deployment, more incentives to reward upgrades, and insuring that any new network management rules put in place don't hinder their ability to run and monetize their networks. For public interest groups that could mean getting the most bandwidth and the most competition out of the broadband marketplace and insuring that the public interest is protected from monopolistic providers.