Jump-Starting the Next Economic Boom
Today, only about 10 percent of American households have broadband through high-speed cable, satellite, or DSL. Even for those homes, the speeds offered are too low for many advanced applications like robust videoconferencing and full length, high-quality video.
Contrary to the Rocky Mountain News editorial published on January 22, government should act as a catalyst in creating a national broadband infrastructure because it will yield systemwide benefits, similar to the kind obtained by wiring the nation for electricity and building the Interstate Highway System. Current national broadband policy is simply not aiming high enough, especially when spreading its benefits to other underserved parts of the country.
For example, federal, state and local governments can take positive steps by expanding public investments in e-government applications, including digital learning and telemedicine, as well as sharply increasing research and development funding. We should provide more support for critical research projects like the Clinton Administration's "I.T. Squared" initiative and the advanced Internet 2.
The federal government can also address the artificial shortage of wireless spectrum for new broadband applications, including technologies critical to ensuring high-speed access in rural areas. Additional spectrum can be reallocated for these broadband services.
The News is absolutely right that government must eliminate regulatory barriers to the deployment of broadband infrastructure and the applications that rely on it. Specifically, the Federal Communications Commission should remove regulatory roadblocks to Internet telephony.
State and local governments should also stop treating telecommunications providers as "cash cows," who can be milked for fees when obtaining access to public rights of way, and instead begin treating them as providers of critical infrastructure. Application processing, tower siting restrictions and layers of taxation can be streamlined.
Expanding broadband will significantly boost productivity and bring a whole host of new products and services into the homes of American consumers. It will transform long-distance learning with rich multimedia content, on-line testing and other powerful tools, especially for children in remote locations and those with physical and mental disabilities. It will strengthen homeland security through better and faster data connections between government agencies and the private sector.
More Americans will be able to work from home, reducing traffic congestion and decreasing pollution. Doctors will be able to effectively treat patients in isolated areas of the country.
In addition to increasing the quality of our lives, broadband’s economic benefits are considerable. A recent study estimates that widespread use will add up to $500 billion in increased domestic economic activity. Just as important, it will make our country more competitive with other G-7 nations (Currently, the US is falling further behind in per capita broadband subscribers).
Leaders in the private and public sectors are looking for ways to reignite the technology-led economic boom of the 1990s. A national broadband system will help get that very important job done.
Jim Gibson is president of the Colorado Democratic Leadership Council, a think tank advocating new ideas and the Democratic Party's historic commitment to economic growth, personal responsibility, community, individual liberty and equal opportunity.