Testimony of Jonathan Adelstein on Rural Broadband

TESTIMONY OF JONATHAN ADELSTEIN
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On May 9, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein testified before the House Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship. The subject was ensuring the ubiquitous deployment of affordable, high speed broadband infrastructure to every corner of this country. He recommended 1) setting ambitious goals and shoot for real high-bandwidth broadband deployment; 2) updating our current anemic definition of high-speed of just 200 kbps in one direction to something more akin to what consumers receive in countries with which we compete; 3) compiling more reliable, more specific data so we can better ascertain our current problems and develop responsive solutions; 4) redoubling our efforts to encourage broadband development by increasing incentives for investment; 5) providing adequate funding for Rural Utilities Service broadband loans and grants; 6) ensuring RUS properly targets those funds; 7) providing tax incentives for companies that invest in broadband to underserved areas; 8) devising better depreciation rules for capital investments in targeted telecommunications services; 9) investing in basic science research and development to spur further innovation in telecommunications technology; 10) improving math and science education so that we have the human resources to fuel continued growth, innovation and usage of advanced telecommunications services; and 11) properly channeling universal service and promoting spectrum-based services for Rural America.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272954A1.doc