CHALLENGE

 

The mission of the Working Group on Adoption and Use was to investigate why residential, commercial, and institutional users do or do not use the Internet; to examine how broadband connections to the Internet can facilitate, expand, and improve such use; and to develop consensus on promising approaches to increasing adoption and use of broadband connections to the Internet.  The Group's mission was not merely to address unserved or underserved areas or individuals, but also to explore ways to stimulate use of broadband as a driver of economic development, educational opportunity, public safety and homeland security, affordable modern health care, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, improved government service, etc. 

 

To some extent, the mission of the Working Group on Adoption and Use overlapped with that of the Working Group on Availability, as physical availability of networks, price and quality of services, consumer education, access to computers, accessibility for people with disabilities, and many other considerations, interact with each other.  The Working Group on Adoption and Use focused on these issues primarily from the perspective of potential broadband users.    

 

KEY OBJECTIVES

 

·         Identify barriers to the adoption and use of broadband connections to the Internet.  Such barriers may include price and performance of broadband connections to the Internet, ignorance of actual and potential benefits of bandwidth-intensive Internet applications, lack of access to computers and other Internet devices, lack of training in use of current computer operating systems and applications, the difficulty of use of current computer operating systems and applications, lack of accessibility for people with disabilities to evolving high speed broadband technologies and applications, etc.

·         Identify opportunities for accelerating adoption and use of broadband connections to the Internet.  The Group should take into account demographic factors, new or improved applications and device, industry-specific considerations (e.g., health care, education, public safety, energy, environment, etc.), and other considerations.

·         Identify short-term and long-term policies to stimulate adoption and use of broadband connections to the Internet.  Examples may include digital literacy programs and outreach; provision of computers and training; subsidies for Internet access for low income households; programs to stimulate innovative applications; assistance in developing applications, operating systems and devices that are easier to use, particularly by disabled individuals; public education programs; local entrepreneurship programs; local Internet resource centers broadband connections; and various techniques to stimulate businesses and institutions in various industries to take advantage of high-capacity broadband connections.

·         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 Adoption and Use.   The Group should strive to achieve as much agreement as possible on the matters discussed 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 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: 

 

Charles Benton (Benton Foundation), Link Hoewing (Verizon), and Karen Perry (Knight Center)

 

Coordinating Committee Liaison: 

 

Kenneth Peres, PhD. (Communications Workers of America /

                                 Alliance for Public Technology)

 

Members: 

 

David Aylward (COMCARE Emergency Response Alliance)

Carolyn Brandon (CTIA)

Art Brodsky (Public Knowledge)

Mary Brown (Cisco)

Matt Connolly (YourTel America)

Kathy Franco (AT&T)

Steve Gorski (National Educational Broadband Services Association)

Bruce Hahn (American Homeowners Alliance)

Chris Huckleberry (Qwest)

Michael Johnston (Jackson Energy Authority)

John Kemp (Half the World Foundation)

Don Kent (Net Literacy Corp.)

Roy Lathrop (Nat'l Cable and Telecom. Association)

Greg Laudeman (Rural Telecommunications Congress)

Howard Lowe (CBN Connect)

Richard Lowenberg (1st-Mile Institute)

Cathy Massey (Clearwire)

Cynthia Miller (Alliance for Digital Equality)

Raquel Noriega (Connected Nation)

Martha Pultar (Int'l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)

Sylvia Rosenthal (Alliance for Public Technology)

Marie Royce (Alcatel-Lucent)

Frank Schultz (AirWire, Inc.)

Catherine Settanni (DIgital Access Project)

 

Karen Peltz Strauss (Communication Service for the Deaf)

Nicol Turner-Lee (One Economy)

 

MILESTONES

 

The following activities should occur on or before the dates set forth below.  Given the complexity of the Coalition’s undertaking, it is critical to meet these deadlines.

 

January

·         Coordinating Committee announces chairs of the working groups and holds conference call to review and fine-tune mission statements

·         Coordinating Committee posts mission statements to the US Broadband Coalition website and invites volunteers to join working groups

·         Chairs hold first meeting of their working groups to discuss deliverables, approaches, timetables, assignments, etc.

·         Working groups prepare detailed outlines of a report for their group and begin to perform research, gather information, etc.

 

February

·         Working groups continue to perform tasks laid out in January

·         Chairs stay in communication with their groups and hold one and, if necessary, more meetings of their group to ensure timely progress and address any new developments or problems

·         Coordinating Committee stays in communication with chairs of working groups and holds at least one conference call among chairs

 

March

·         By end of first week, working groups complete preliminary draft reports

·         Chairs provide copies of preliminary drafts to other chairs and members of Coordinating Committee

·         By mid-month, Coordinating Committee and chairs participate in conference call to exchange feedback on preliminary drafts

·         Chairs report feedback to working groups, and working groups complete drafts

 

April

·         Coordinating Committee and chairs review final drafts and meet to discuss areas of consensus, potential consensus, disagreement and to plan next steps, how to present points of consensus, potential consensus, disagreement

·         Working groups develop next drafts of reports, incorporating agreements among members of coordinating committee and chairs of working groups

·         Coordinating Committee, Conference Committee and chairs begin to plan Spring Event

 

May

·         Draft reports circulated among whole Coalition for comment

·         Working groups incorporate comments

·         Coordinating Committee, Conference Committee, group chairs continue to plan Spring Event

 

June

·         Coordinating Committee and chairs finalize report of Coalition as a whole

·         Spring/Summer Event

 

RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE U.S. 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 Adoption and Use. The federal government, in collaboration with state and local governments and the private sector, must play an active role in stimulating adoption and use of advanced broadband connections.  All Americans must have access to computers and the knowledge to use broadband technology effectively.  Federal support might include programs, grants, subsidies, and other measures that foster broadband connectivity, computer access, education, and training.