Broadband Revolution

Broadband Revolution
Developing a National Broadband Strategy to Keep the U.S. Prosperous in the 21st Century

Monday, June 23, 2008
12:15 - 1:45 p.m.

Hart Senate Office Building
Room 902
Washington, DC

Although the U.S. once led the world in Internet deployment and innovation, our nation continues to plummet in international rankings in terms of broadband adoption, speeds and costs. As a result, there is growing support for an affirmative national broadband policy to promote more affordable and ubiquitous access to high-bandwidth connectivity.

Since 2001, the e-NC Authority of North Carolina has been at the forefront of state efforts to promote availability and adoption of broadband, particularly in rural and distressed urban areas. The e-NC Authority provides a vital state-level view of what it will take to make this essential 21st Century infrastructure available and affordable for all. At this forum the e-NC Authority will release and present a major white paper, prepared by the Baller Herbst Law Group, that comprehensively examines trends and issues in broadband deployment, including:

  • The growing benefits of broadband to economic development, education, health care, public safety, telework, urban revitalization, environmental sustainability, and other key areas of American life;
  • Broadband deployment efforts in leading Asian and European nations and how they differ from the U.S. approach;
  • The level of bandwidth capacity that will be sufficient to enable America to thrive in the emerging knowledge-based global economy;
  • How national, state and local broadband strategies can contribute to America's success;
  • And policy recommendations to help North Carolina and the United States capture the full benefits of broadband in the years ahead.

The panelists will discuss the policy issues posed by the white paper and their implications for developing a national broadband strategy to energize high-capacity broadband deployment and adoption throughout the U.S.

Featured Speakers:

Commissioner Michael Copps
Federal Communications Commission

Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein
Federal Communications Commission

Jane Smith Patterson
Executive Director, The e-NC Authority

Jim Baller
The Baller Herbst Law Group, Washington, D.C.

Diana G. Oblinger
President and CEO, EDUCAUSE

Stan Fendley
Director of Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Corning, Inc.
(on behalf of the Fiber-to-the-Home Council)

Michael Calabrese
Vice President and Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation

To RSVP for this event, click on the red button or go to the event page: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/broadband_revolution.

For questions, contact Liz Wu at wu@newamerica.net or (202) 986-2700 x315.

Lunch will be provided