National broadband plan must include public hearings, benchmarks for progress

The Communications Workers of America commends the Federal Communications Commission for moving forward promptly to develop a national broadband plan.

There is no question that high-speed broadband is the essential infrastructure of the 21st century, but the United States has a lot of work to do if we are to close the broadband gaps that now exist in our nation.

Too many Americans encounter a significant digital divide based on geography and income and this denies the promise of the Internet to millions. For too long, the United States has lacked a national policy to promote high-speed broadband. CWA is very pleased that the Commission is moving ahead to help make the vision of universal, affordable access a reality for all Americans.

To support the Commission's work, CWA recommends the following:

• A series of public hearings in communities across the country that will help provide guidance for the national plan from a broad group of citizens, businesses and communities.
• Benchmarks that are ambitious, but achievable, with an initial goal of 10 megabits per second downstream and 1 megabit per second upstream. CWA is calling for specific benchmarks to increase broadband speeds to the home over a six-year period that would meet that goal.
• Establish tax incentives that encourage private businesses to build out and upgrade universal, advanced networks. Encouraging and accelerating the deployment of these advanced networks is an extremely cost-effective policy.
• Safeguard consumers and create quality jobs by requiring public reporting for deployment, actual speed, price and quality of service, and insisting that employers adhere to all labor laws and standards, including workers' rights to bargaining collectively and form a union.

CWA's Speed Matters campaign has been leading an effort for more than two years to promote policies to support the build out of true high speed broadband and encourage public-private partnerships that will help bring about universal access.

We commend the Commission for moving forward on this critical issue for a nation.