CWA President urges Congress to pass broadband bill

Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen testified before Congress on September 16 in a hearing called "Why Broadband Matters." Cohen advocated for the passage of the Broadband Data Information Act (S .1492).

Citing the Speed Matters State-by-State Report on Internet Connection Speeds and the United States #15 ranking internationally for residential broadband subscribers, Cohen made a convincing argument for a national broadband policy.

Cohen issued a call to action for Congressional Leaders:

It’s time to bring national leadership to this critical issue. It is long past time for the Senate to adopt S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act. This bill would improve federal broadband data collection, provide grants to states for broadband mapping and for public-private partnerships to stimulate supply of and demand for broadband networks and services.

Cohen then outlined six steps to creating a national broadband policy that will allow the United States to continue competing with other industrialized nations:

1. Improve data collection by passing S.1492 and build-out networks with enough capacity for ten megabits per second downstream and one megabit per second upstream by 2010. By 2015 the networks should be capable of delivering 100 megabits per second in both directions;
2. Support public-private partnerships to stimulate demand for and deployment of broadband networks;
3. Reform the universal service system to support high speed Internet for all;
4. Adopt polices that spur deployment of faster, second-generation networks through tax incentives and low interest loans;
5. Support demand-stimulation programs that fund grants for community-based public-interest broadband applications and services, digital literacy programs, and provision of free and low-cost computers to low-income households; and
6. Preserve an open Internet, subject to reasonable network management… and continue to safeguard consumers and promote good career jobs for workers in the industry.

The Broadband Data Improvement Act will provide the research and the funding to help make sure every American has affordable, high-speed Internet access. With an already struggling economy, we can't afford to continue falling behind in high speed broadband. Send a letter to your Senator today urging them to vote for the bill.