Making the National Broadband Plan Work for America

In advance of the Federal Communications Commission discussion of its policy framework for a National Broadband Plan, Free Press released a public interest guide that lays out the central questions that must be answered by the Commission. Free Press points to the creation of better broadband competition as the driving issue behind the plan's success. The issue brief is a tool for measuring the broadband plan's ability to meet tough challenges. It lays out the core issues the plan must answer to serve the public interest and includes policy recommendations for spurring competition, expanding broadband to rural America, and guaranteeing openness and accountability. In recent years, the United States has been rapidly slipping down the ranks of the world's leading broadband nations. After the FCC discussion, however, Free Press said, "The overview of the plan failed to present policy ideas for spurring competition. In a 17 point framework for the plan, competition policy appeared only in the context of opening up the marketplace for cable set-top box policies." Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott said, "America's most basic broadband problem is that we are stuck with a duopoly of local cable and telephone companies that controls virtually every broadband market in America. The trend in both wireless and wireline broadband markets lead to more consolidation, not less. Where are the clear goals and benchmarks for bringing American consumers a world class network? The current marketplace will not magically leap forward to world class levels. There must be major policy intervention to get the country on track."