Broadband Access and Pricing, Presented at Policy Conferences

The United States has fallen behind its international competitors in broadband deployment, price, and openness in part because it has no national broadband policy. In contrast, most other countries adopted proactive programs to address the broadband needs of their citizens at the beginning of the decade that are now proving successful. Several U.S. states are now developing their own broadband plans because of the void at the national level. This session will propose an action plan for the nation based on the lessons learned from Europe, Asia, and some U.S. states and discuss what it will take to get such a plan through Congress.

The digital convergence of telecommunications, media, and technology is changing the landscape for policy makers and the industries that lobby them, as well as the users of computers, telephones, entertainment and knowledge. The Center for Public Integrity's Well Connected project tracks each of the major telecom, broadcast, cable, news, entertainment, wireless, and computer companies. Americans can access this free database to see who owns the media and communications networks in their city by typing in their ZIP code. The project is also responsible for a freedom of information lawsuit to obtain data about local broadband deployment from the FCC. This session will address the need for the educational users of computing and communication to be attuned to the lobbying fault lines that affect all of these sectors, with a particular focus on recent developments in telecommunications and intellectual property.

Most Americans rely on DSL and cable modem for their broadband connection, but are these the only options? Other technologies once derided as impractical are beginning to show promise. Can alternative broadband technologies help facilitate the oft-repeated vision of federal policymakers to provide "affordable, ubiquitous broadband for all Americans, regardless of where they live"? Industry experts and entrepreneurs seeking to shake up the current broadband marketplace will discuss the practical progress of these alternatives to date and whether adjustments in federal IT policy regulations are needed to enable their chances for success.