FCC Commissioner: America's Broadband Policy is 'An Outrage'

Drowned out from all the hoopla about Election Day was an important article in the Washington Post by Federal Communications Commissioner Michael J. Copps:

America's record in expanding broadband communication is so poor that it should be viewed as an outrage by every consumer and businessperson in the country. Too few of us have broadband connections, and those who do pay too much for service that is too slow. It's hurting our economy, and things are only going to get worse if we don't do something about it.

Copps makes a compelling case -- the government must intervene to ensure that America doesn't fall behind in the global economy:

We need a broadband strategy for America. Other industrialized countries have developed national broadband strategies. In the United States we have a campaign promise of universal broadband access by 2007, but no strategy for getting there. With less than two months to go, we aren't even within shouting distance.

It seems plain enough that our present policies aren't working. Inattention and muddling through may be the path of least resistance, but they should not and must not represent our national policy on this critical issue.

We agree with Copps' argument: that U.S. consumers deserve competition between service providers to improve innovation and access to the world's best technology.

We look forward to working with Copps on moving this agenda forward.

 Washington Post: America's Internet Disconnect