The EU wants to invest in broadband, but will it?

European Commission vice president Neelie Kroes has long advocated faster broadband’s economic benefits. Now she is preparing to ask the EU to endorse a package that could free up to €100 billion ($128.65 billion) in broadband infrastructure investment. Voting on the proposal is due by the European Parliament and ministers of member states at the end of this month. As part of a conference supporting the initiative, Kroes presented detailed plans to key industry stakeholders for the first time. Her argument is that the fund’s €9.2 billion in government loans can unlock between €50 billion and €100 billion in actual broadband spending over the six years of the program. Kroes is selling it with strong language that paints broadband as the gateway for communities and organizations to the 21st century.