CHALLENGE

 

All members of the US Broadband Coalition agree on the need for policies that would increase availability of robust broadband connections to the Internet (see the relevant part of the Call to Action reproduced at the end of this statement).  The mission of the Working Group on Availability is to identify and build consensus on short-term and long-term policies to stimulate sustainable investments in broadband infrastructure and to mitigate financial, legal, and regulatory barriers to such investments. 

 

To some extent, the mission of the Working Group on Availability overlapped with that of the Working Group on Adoption and Use, as the supply-side considerations affecting the availability of broadband connections to the Internet are significantly affected by a variety of demand-side considerations, including price and quality of such connections, citizen education, access to computers, etc.  The Working Group on Availability focused primarily on the supply-side considerations. 

 

KEY OBJECTIVES

 

·         Identify impediments to the successful deployment of world-class broadband connections to the Internet.  For example, such impediments may include lack of sufficient financial resources, sustainability over the medium and long term, legal barriers to entry, regulatory issues, knowledge gaps, etc.

 

·         Outline the major areas of opportunity for accelerating the pace of deployment of world-class broadband connections to the Internet.  To the extent possible, address such opportunities by geography (e.g., rural, urban, suburban); by industry (e.g., health care, education, public safety, energy, environment, etc.); and by technology (fiber optics, hybrid fiber-coaxial or fiber-copper, hybrid wireline-wireless, wireless (including satellite), etc.)

 

·         Recommend both short-term and longer-term policies to accelerate the deployment of world-class connections to the Internet.   Such policies may include financial stimuli through tax incentives, low-interest loans, loan guarantees, grants in aid, Universal Service or other subsidies; reducing legal or regulatory barriers, consistent with public interest; enhancing public education programs; facilitating multi-disciplinary communications, etc.  Recommendations should be as detailed as possible.

 

·         Identify successful strategies employed by other nations and discuss their potential utility in the United States. 

 

·         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 Availability.   The Working Group on Availability should strive to achieve as much agreement as possible in identifying the major supply-side challenges that the United States must meet and the policies that would make this possible.  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 that might have resulted in further consensus, and provide a framework or guiding principles that decision makers should address 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

 

Co-Chairs:  Brent Olson (AT&T) and Ben Scott (Free Press)   

 

Coordinating Committee Liaison:  David Isenberg (isen.com, LLC)     

 

Members:

 

David Bartlett (Embarq)

Marc Berejka (Microsoft)

Erin Boone (Clearwire)

Carolyn Brandon (CTIA)

Danielle Coffey (TIA)

Pete Collins (Illinois Municipal Broadband Communications Association)

Matt Connolly (YourTel America)

Mary Evslin (Vermont Broadband Authority)

Jason Friedrich (Motorola)

John Goodman (Broadband Service Providers Association)

Bruce Hahn (American Homeowners Alliance)

Rick Harnish (Wireless Internet Service Providers Association)

Alan Hill (XO Communications)

Joanne Hovis (NATOA)

Karen Jackson (Va. Off. Telework Promo. & Broadband Asst.)

Sanford Jewett (Reliance WiMAX World)

Brett Kilbourne (Utilities Telecom Council)

Derek Khlopin (Nokia/Nokia Siemens Networks)

Ross Lieberman (American Cable Association)

Corry Marshall (American Public Power Association)

Katherine Mudge (Covad Communications)

Raquel Noriega (Connected Nation)

Tim Nulty (East Central VT Community FIber Network)

Eric Peterson (Rural Cellular Association)

Tom Rieman (The Broadband Group)

Greg Richardson (Civitium)

Marie Royce (Alcatel-Lucent)

Joe Savage (FTTH Council)

Catherine Sloan (Computer and Communications Industry Association)

Steven Teplitz (Time Warner Cable)

Christopher White (NJ Division of Rate Counsel)

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.  These include tax incentives, low-interest loans, subsidies, public-private partnerships, competition policy, and many other forms of direct and indirect support by all levels of government.  Such measures have led to increased broadband availability, faster speeds, lower prices, and high adoption rates.  The United States should not ignore successful policies and practices from other countries, as it pursues a National Broadband Strategy that is aligned with our own unique history, culture, geography, and economy.

 

Policies to Stimulate High-Speed Broadband Investment.  The federal government, in collaboration with state and local governments and the private sector, should play an active role in stimulating broadband deployment, particularly in unserved areas.  Such support might include tax incentives, grants, low cost loans, loan guarantees, universal service subsidies, efficient use of spectrum, and other approaches.