Day 1 of the National Broadband Plan (1827 Days Later)

[Commentary] On the eve of the release of the National Broadband Plan five years ago, Charles Benton wrote, “We must roll up our sleeves to make sure we all enjoy the promise of truly universal, affordable broadband…. we must implement this plan -- quickly -- while evaluating our investments in broadband to inform our next national broadband plan.” As we review the progress on the plan, we take another look at Benton’s clarion call from 2010. Benton wrote, “Some may balk at the expansiveness of the plan and the FCC's calls for additional spending. Others may say that there is no need to enact this plan, that the marketplace alone will deliver the high-speed networks and services we need to improve people's lives. But the plan is exactly what Congress called for and the law requires. Our over-reliance on the marketplace to date has left us with gaping divides between people with the access and skills they need to make effective use of today's most powerful communications tools and those who don't. We embark on implementing this plan so that each of us -- no matter our income, education, ethnicity or age -- have the opportunity to fully participate in our society.”