CHALLENGE

All members of the US Broadband Coalition endorse the goals set forth in the Call to Action (relevant portions copied below), but they do not necessarily agree on precisely how these goals should be achieved.  For example, some members of the Coalition believe that the United States should strive to be a “100 Megabit Nation” by 2015, while others believe that such a goal is too ambitious or not ambitious enough.  Some members focus on particular technologies, while others focus on a combination of technologies or technology-neutral performance standards.  Some members call for universal standards, while others call for different standards for different situations.  Some members emphasize preserving an open Internet, while others emphasizing ensuring flexibility in network management.  The mission of the Working Group on Goals was to explore these issues in greater depth and develop as much agreement on them as possible.   

KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKING GROUP ON GOALS

 ·         Develop ambitious, realistic, and measurable goals and timelines for making robust broadband connections to the Internet available, usable, and accessible to all Americans.  Such connections should have sufficient capacity to enable all American individuals, businesses, and institutions to compete successfully in the emerging global economy and to take full advantage of current and future bandwidth-intensive applications.  The goals should not only be based on conditions in the United States, but should also take into account the progress that the leading nations around the world are making.

·         To the extent possible, refine and reconcile Goals b and c of the Call to Action.  Goal b is that “Access to the Internet should, to the maximum feasible extent, be open to all users, service providers, content providers, and application providers.”  Goal c is that “Network operators must have the right to manage their networks responsibly, pursuant to clear and workable guidelines and standards.”

·         Prepare for and participate in the Coalition’s event to be held in the Spring or early Summer of 2009, including designating speakers to present the report of the Working Group on Goals.  The Group should strive to develop as much consensus as possible in the areas described above.  If the Group cannot reach consensus on any issue, it should describe the positions of the disagreeing parties, explain why consensus was not possible, identify any significant data gaps, indicate whether further steps or more time might have resulted in consensus, and provide a framework or guiding principles that decision makers should utilize in resolving these issues. 

·         Serve as a resource for other working groups.

·         Assist the Coordinating Committee and Conference Committees in planning the Spring event. 

MEMBERSHIP OF THE WORKING GROUP

Co-Chairs: Rick Cimerman, National Cable and Telecommunications Association
                 John Windhausen, Telopoly, representing Educause, American Library Association

Members:

Mark Ansboury (OneCommunity/Knight Center)

Mark Berejka (Microsoft)

Carolyn Brandon (CTIA)

Danielle Coffey (TIA)

Debbie Goldman (Communications Workers of America)

Lev Gonick (Case Western Reserve University)

Alan Hill (XO Communications)

James Jones (Mid-Pacific ITC Center)

Tim Lance (NYSERNet, Inc.)

Derek Khlopin (Nokia/Nokia Siemens Networks)

Kevin Krufky (Alcatel-Lucent)

Don Means (Community Telestructure Initiative)

Sascha Meinrath (New America Foundation)

Tony Perez (NATOA)

Catharine Rice (SEATOA)

Graham Richard (Graham Richard Associates)

Joe Savage (FTTH Council)

Steve Sharkey (Motorola)

Jason Wakefield (Covad Communications)

Rick Whitt (Google)  

RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE US BROADBAND COALITION’S CALL TO ACTION FOR A NATIONAL BROADBAND STRATEGY

“The United States Urgently Needs a Comprehensive National Broadband Strategy

“The United States is at a critical juncture.  Too many Americans still do not have access to affordable broadband or lack the equipment or knowledge to use it effectively.  If the United States is to remain a leader in the global economy, our broadband networks must also be robust enough to enable our people, businesses, and public and private institutions to take full advantage of emerging and future bandwidth-intensive and quality-sensitive applications.

“The United States vies in an increasingly competitive global marketplace with Asian, European, and other nations that have recognized the transformative significance and competitive advantages of broadband.  Many nations have implemented national strategies that treat advanced communications networks as strategic infrastructure, and they are using a variety of policies and practices to promote broadband deployment and adoption.  …

“Goals. The National Broadband Strategy should set out several clear, forward-looking, and attainable goals that take into account the ability of broadband to generate huge benefits in education, environmental protection, scientific research, medicine, health care, energy efficiency, transportation, and overall economic vitality.  These goals should include the following:

a.     Every American home, business, and public and private institution should have access to affordable high‑speed broadband connections to the Internet.

b.    Access to the Internet should, to the maximum feasible extent, be open to all users, service providers, content providers, and application providers.

c.     Network operators must have the right to manage their networks responsibly, pursuant to clear and workable guidelines and standards.

d.    The Internet and broadband marketplace should be as competitive as reasonably possible. 

e.     U.S. broadband networks should provide Americans with the network performance, capacity, and connections they need to compete successfully in the global marketplace.