Why America Needs a National Broadband Plan

[Commentary] If the U.S. military ranked 17th in the world, you can bet that as a nation we would make strengthening our armed forces a national priority. Yet that's just how the U.S. stacks up against the rest of the world in terms of access to high-speed Internet connections.

The vital communications systems that make our economy work and serve as a platform for business innovation and social interactions are second-class. Sadly, many of us have accepted that. It's time to overcome our broadband complacency. The national broadband plan sent to Congress on Mar. 16 by the Federal Communications Commission is critical to our economic and national security. Without a plan, we simply cannot compete. It may take years for us to grasp either the speed or the magnitude of the changes happening globally. For example, in the next three years the number of Internet users will increase by 500 million, most of them from Asia, and the number of Internet-enabled devices will nearly double, creating new business and social dynamics. Here is what we do know: We are only as strong as the systems and infrastructure we have. A world that used to be defined by who ruled the High Seas is now defined by who delivers the best network connections.

The FCC has shown leadership by pointing us in a direction. Now it's time for the rest of us to build the systems that are vital to the economic and social future of every nation.

[Chambers is Chief Executive Officer of Cisco]