US Broadband Coalition Releases Final Report Today on Accelerating Use and Adoption of Broadband
The report makes a series
of policy recommendations for the FCC as the Commission develops a National
Broadband Plan that will be delivered to Congress in February 2010. The
recommendations seek to promote inclusion, integration, interoperability,
investment, and innovation.
The recommendations “focus
both on the broadband infrastructure and on the applications and adoption
issues that create value from that infrastructure.” The five areas
addressed in the report are (1) “bridging the digital divide,” (2) “addressing
the broadband adoption gap for people with disabilities,” (3) “increasing the
intensity of broadband use in core sectors of our economy,” (4) “raising the
bar on skills and ease of use,” and (5) “accelerating
innovation.”
At the event, led by U.S.
Broadband Coalition President Jim Baller, panelists discussed adoption and
use policy options related to digital inclusion, making broadband more
accessible to persons with disabilities, economic development, education,
energy issues, healthcare, public safety, and civic engagement.
Blair Levin and Brian
David , both of the FCC, each spoke and discussed the upcoming National
Broadband Plan. Mr. Levin stressed the need for more data on the
cost of digital exclusion and the importance of drafting a plan that has a life
beyond its February delivery to Congress. Mr. David discussed
the tentative layout of the plan. It will likely be divided by
what entity can best address certain issues (i.e. the FCC, other agencies,
Congress, the private sector, etc.) and will prioritize recommendations.
Some possible recommendations that could be included are a national digital
literacy corps, a focus on public-private partnerships, updating accessibility
laws, and a “national help desk.”
The Broadband Task Force
is expected to present an update to the Commissioners at the FCC’s next open
meeting that will be held next Wednesday, November 18th.