Document Library
Want to learn more? The Speed Matters Document Library has an abundance of information about where we are and what it will take for America to close our digital divide. From state-by-state analysis of high speed policies to how governments can promote a more open internet, the resources below speak to the issues at depth. Our movement to close the digital divide depends largely on our ability to convince local, state, and federal governments about the need for universal internet access.
Check out our library below for additional information on closing the digital divide, creating an open internet, and ways to create universal internet access.
Speed Matters: Brochure
A short summary of why we need high-speed Internet policies for economic growth, jobs, telemedicine, education, e-government, and public safety; how we have fallen to 16th in the world with a serious digital divide; and policies to get us there including public/private partnerships, preserve an open internet, investment incentives, and demand creation. It includes the 5 Speed Matters principles. If you would like printed copies of the brochure, contact us at speeedmatters@cwa-union.org.
View Document (PDF 226kb)
October 16, 2006 | Category: Consumer and Worker Protections, Costs, Data, Defining High Speed, Economic Growth, Education and Training, Enabling The Disabled, Government and Civic Participation, Health Care, International Competition, Need for National Policy, New Definitions, New Policy, Open Internet, Personal, Public Safety, The Digital Divide
Speed Matters: CWA Policy Paper
Speed Matters: Affordable High Speed Internet for All provides working definitions of open internet and high speed broadband. The Policy Paper also gives examples that illustrate why each are necessary; identifies some of the consequences resulting from our failure to enact a national policy for universal internet access and the importance of such a policy for jobs and quality services; and gives examples of other countries that have successfully implemented national policies. The paper includes a list of specific policy recommendations.
View Document (PDF 310 kb)
October 3, 2006 | Category: Consumer and Worker Protections, Costs, Data, Defining High Speed, Economic Growth, Education and Training, Enabling The Disabled, Government and Civic Participation, Health Care, International Competition, Need for National Policy, New Definitions, New Policy, Open Internet, Personal, Public Safety, The Digital Divide
Speed Matters: CWA Policy Recommendations Summary
One page summary of the policy recommendations set forth in CWA's Speed Matters: High Speed Internet for All policy paper. Recommendations include how our government can promote universal internet access, preserve an open internet, and close the digital divide.
View Document (PDF 81 kb)
March 1, 2007 | Category: Defining High Speed, Need for National Policy, New Definitions, New Policy, Open Internet, The Digital Divide
Achieving Universal Broadband: Policies for Stimulating Deployment and Demand
From the Alliance for Public Technology. The report identifies the critical need for universal internet access, examines gaps in current policies and recommends a number of reforms that would promote the ubiquitous deployment of and access to high speed networks and services.
View Document (PDF 613kb)
February 9, 2007 | Category: Need for National Policy, New Policy, The Digital Divide
Broadband Mapping and Data Collection
Testimony of CWA President Larry Cohen before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
View Document (PDF 40 kb)
May 17, 2007 | Category: Data, Defining High Speed, Need for National Policy
ConnectMyState Model Legislation
In cooperation with ConnectedNation, a nonprofit group aimed at expanding high-speed Internet access and other community-based technology improvements, CWA has developed model legislation for state-level Internet policies.
View Document (PDF 83 kb)
February 25, 2007 | Category: New Policy
Development of National Broadband Data (FCC Filing)
Communications Workers of America's comments in response to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on how the Commission can continue to acquire the information it needs to develop and maintain appropriate broadband policies (07-38).
View Document (PDF 69 kb)
June 15, 2007 | Category: Data, Defining High Speed
High-Speed Services for Internet Access: Status as of December 31, 2005
July 2006 FCC High Speed Internet Status Report
View Document (PDF 580 kb)
July 1, 2006 | Category: Data, Need for National Policy
Information and Communications for Development 2006: Global Trends and Policies
World Bank website addressing the critical role being played by information and communication technologies in economic development. Includes detailed data on internet deployment for 144 countries.
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April 1, 2006 | Category: Data, Economic Growth, International Competition
Public Access computing and Internet access in public libraries: The role of public libraries in e-government and emergency situations
This paper from the online journal "First Monday" describes the important role libraries play in providing public access to an open internet in times of crisis.
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September 1, 2006 | Category: Government and Civic Participation, The Digital Divide
Public Libraries and the Internet 2006
This study examines the challenges that libraries face as demands for Internet services increase. The report notes that, "Providing 'bare minimum' public access computing and Internet access can have two detrimental effects: 1) relegate libraries to places of last resort, and 2) further digitally divide those who only have PAC and Internet access through their public libraries."
View Document (PDF 1.16 MB)
September 1, 2006 | Category: Government and Civic Participation, The Digital Divide
The $500 Billion Opportunity: The Potential Economic Benefit of Widespread Diffusion of Broadband Internet Access
Study estimating the economic impact of widespread adoption of broadband service in the U.S.
View Document (PDF 228 kb)
July 1, 2001 | Category: Economic Growth
The Broadband Fact Book
This publication, from the Internet Innovation Alliance, presents a wide array of information about broadband in the U.S.--user demographics, data on speeds and availablity, and statistics ono the growth of the internet.
View Document (PDF 2.7 mb)
June 1, 2007 | Category: Data, Economic Growth
The Case for a National Broadband Policy
An Information Technology and Innovation Foundation report in which Robert Atkinson finds that the United States has fallen behind in broadband, and makes the case for public policies to promote it. He documents four types of economic externalities that limit the market's capacity of reaching the optimal level of broadband adoption without policies to encourage deployment and uptake.
View Document (PDF 189 kb)
June 1, 2007 | Category: Need for National Policy
The Proposed FairPoint Purchase of Verizon's Properties Would Place Consumers, Workers and Communities at Risk
Analysis of the proposed sale of Verizon’s properties in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to FairPoint. CWA and IBEW conclude that the proposed sale poses significant risks not only to our jobs and livelihoods but also to the economic health of our communities, both in terms of the quality of telephone services and the availability of high speed universal internet access and an open internet.
View Document (PDF 128kb)
January 23, 2007 | Category: Consumer and Worker Protections
Universal access in the information economy: Tracking policy innovations abroad
Krishna Jayakar of Pennsylvania State University and Harmeet Sawhney of Indiana University identify four key components of the "new" universal service and illustrate them with examples from other countries. They conclude that several successful national broadband strategies have enabled many countries to overtake the U.S. in per capita broadband deployment. Many embrace "ubiquitous" broadband for the competitive advantages it offers not just as a societal goal. Their universal service goals extend beyond mere physical connectivity to fostering the "arenas of innovation" that generate innovations and drive broadband adoption.
View Document (DOC 81 kb)
April 19, 2007 | Category: International Competition, Need for National Policy, New Policy
What Lessons can the U.S. learn from Broadband Policies in Europe?
In this paper, Amit M. Schejter of Penn State University compares the development of European and American telecommunications regulatory frameworks and describes the evolution of the policies that led to European supremacy in broadband deployment by comparing European policy development to the policy development in the United States during the past decade. Schejter concludes that this time around the Europeans may be on the way to taking a more innovative and effective approach to what was once considered a badge of pride of the U.S. telecommunications policy, universal service, by considering the adoption of a universal broadband goal.
Summary available at: Benton Foundation
View Document (DOC 147 kb)
April 2, 2007 | Category: International Competition, Need for National Policy
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