Broadband: A Driving Force for American Job Creation and Economic Growth

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski spoke at the Washington (DC) headquarters of Living Social, focusing on broadband in the 21st century – how high-speed Internet is creating jobs in large numbers across sectors, boosting opportunity, and driving global competitiveness. He addressed three key issues from the National Broadband Plan:

• Why broadband is so vital to near-term economic recovery and long-term prosperity
• How positive developments in the broadband economy are strong reasons for optimism about America’s economic future, and
• What we must do to address threats to our broadband economy and harness the power of high-speed Internet to spur economic growth and job creation, such as implementing voluntary incentive auctions and Universal Service Fund reform.

Laying out his policy roadmap to Mobilize America, Connect America and Empower America, Chairman Genachowski spotlighted several key issues. First, unleashing spectrum for mobile broadband through voluntary incentive auctions – to Mobilize America. Second, expanding access to connect millions more schools, library and hospitals to fast, affordable Internet – to Connect America. Third, grow the rate of broadband adoption by giving Americans the necessary tools to get online – to Empower America.