What policymakers are saying about universal broadband

Sen Inouye 11.15.07

"For America to keep pace with the rest of the world in the digital age, we need well-informed broadband policy. But we cannot have good broadband policy based on bad broadband data."

Why does speed matter? Speed defines what is possible on the Internet. It determines whether we will have the 21st century networks we need to grow jobs and our economy, and whether we will be able to support innovations in telemedicine, education, public safety, and public services to improve our lives and communities. Most U.S. Internet connections today are not fast enough to permit interactive home-based medical monitoring, multi-media distance learning, or to send and receive data to run a home-based business.

-- Communications Workers of America

Robert Crandall, William Lehr and Robert Litan

"[A]ll levels of government should follow policies that encourage broadband competition, which will lead to lower prices and hence greater use."

-- Robert Crandall, William Lehr and Robert Litan

S. Derek Turner 04.23.07

"The growing digital divide between the United States and the rest of the world will have real-world consequences."

FCC Commissioner Copps 04.23.07

"Every year brings more bad news as the United States slides farther down the broadband rankings. It's a national embarrassment and the only way to change it is to develop a broadband strategy like every other industrialized nation has already done."

-- FCC Commissioner Michael Copps

The Children's Partnership

As the lives of young people increasingly rely on information and communications technologies for education, health and medical care, civic engagement and workforce preparedness, the principle of universal access to broadband becomes one of central concern to the nationâ€™s children, youth, and families.
-- The Childern's Partnership

Rep Ed Markey 3.14.07

The reality is that America currently suffers from the lack of an overarching broadband plan, a low speed threshold, poor data, and threats to the openness of the Internet.
-- Rep Ed Markey (D-MA)

Charles Benton 1/2/07

"To achieve your goal, we need broadband pipes that are bigger, go faster, and extend further into every corner, community, and city in America â€“ and we need them now."
-- Charles Benton

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

"Affordable Internet that is accessible to all San Franciscans regardless of geography or income is simply essential. We must recognize that access to information is a fundamental government service akin to libraries or public schools."
-- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

Former FCC Chairman Bill Kennard

"The nation should have a full-scale policy debate about the direction of the broadband Internet, especially about how to make sure that all Americans get access to broadband connections."
-- Former FCC Chairman Bill Kennard