Think tank aims to reduce partisan debate on national broadband policy

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a non-partisan think tank, released a white paper that outlines four major differences between conservatives and liberals in the debate over a national broadband policy. The ITIF created the white paper with the goal of getting competing sides of the debate to increase civility and encourage real analysis of the issues.

The think tank points to one of the prevailing talking points of the 2008 presidential campaign; both John McCain and Barack Obama continually speak about the importance of ending the bitter and destructive partisan battles in Washington. It hopes that 2009 will see mitigation of such ideological competition and result in a national broadband policy.

Robert Atkins, President of the ITIF explains: 

"Just because you work for a large telecom company doesn't mean you're evil and just because you believe in municipal wireless networks doesn't mean you are a communist."

Ken Peres, of the Communications Workers of America, spoke at an ITIF forum that unveiled the paper. Peres stresses that there is a large role for both corporations and for government in the process of improving the availability of broadband Internet access and speed in the United States.

The four points of debate outlined in the report are the United States International Broadband Position, The Role of Competition, Net Neutrality and the Overall Broadband Policy. For each topic area, the report details the prevailing opinion on the right and on the left and points out to how they can make compromises to make both sides able to have positive dialogue.

Group calls for broadband policy debate cease-fire (Network World)

Post-Partisan Broadband Debate (ITIF)