Federal Broadband Policy Needed: Editorial by Professor Weiser

An editorial by Professor Phil Weiser titled “Broadband For All” in today’s Rocky Mountain News. Read full article.

“By all accounts, broadband is the fastest growing consumer electronics technology in U.S. history. Nonetheless, other countries have enjoyed faster growth in their adoption of broadband, spurring concerns that the U.S. is losing its status as a leader in the Internet age. There are a number of reasons why the international comparisons are questionable, but those reasons do not justify the lack of federal policy leadership in this area.

As many have observed, the Bush administration has largely failed to develop any framework for broadband policy. This policy of benign neglect is most unfortunate because broadband is not just like any consumer electronics technology. Rather, it provides a crucial platform for delivering education (bringing advanced courses into every home and school), providing health care (allowing doctors to offer diagnoses at a distance), and driving economic development (enabling Internet-based businesses to be located anywhere).

Thankfully, Gov. Bill Ritter recognized the importance of broadband deployment in his Colorado Promise, calling for the development of a Broadband Infrastructure Task Force to develop a strategy for addressing the issue. This task force is now up and running as a part of the Governor's Innovation Council.

In my view, however, allowing another three or five or seven years to lapse before deciding to take action is not a risk we should take. If we do, we will ensure that young, talented individuals will not locate in areas not served by broadband and that those who are already there will leave them, thereby undermining Colorado's standing vis-a-vis other states and in the world economy more generally.”