Long-time NextGenWeb contributor and small business owner Tom McDonald, CEO of BeSafe Technologies, was one of the panelists called to testify. McDonald told members that the broadband expansion America has witnessed over the past several years has been instrumental to the growth of his and other small businesses throughout the country. While he said it is tough out there on Main Street right now, that he is optimistic that the broadband explosion will continue in the years ahead. A caveat he added was that “certainty of the rules of the game” are critical and that he is worried about the uncertainty that could be created around the Title II issue unfolding at the FCC (more on that in our interview below). Ranking Member and Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), cautioned that regulatory schemes which discourage investment in broadband infrastructure are not only harmful to small business, but also consumers.

Evan Burfield, (@eburfield) President and CEO of the Synteractive Corporation said in his testimony, “I know Congress and policy makers are paying close attention to ‘Net Neutrality,’ and the Members of this Committee are more attuned to the ongoing policy debate than I am. But as an entrepreneur, I would encourage policy makers to steer clear of foreclosing new business opportunities for small business, including our ability to partner with carriers.”

Concluding the Q&A portion of the hearing McDonald urged members to make sure that “today’s solution is not tomorrow’s problem” when it comes to facilitating continued growth in the broadband marketplace. He told committee members that the growth of broadband penetration is an American success story, and that while there is more work to do we shouldn’t invoke policies that could stifle the growth we’re already seeing.

Be sure to check our interview with BeSafe CEO Tom McDonald below outside the U.S. Capitol.

And be sure to check out our interview below.

Last week the Massachusetts Broadband Institute issued a “Call for Solutions” in an attempt to identify public-private partnerships throughout the state that would help lead to increased investment and deployment of broadband. Communities throughout America have turned to the public-private model as a way to build upon the rapid expansion of broadband that has exploded across the U.S. And it works.

Connected Nation has been a leader in public-private partnership initiatives — showing how far a little cooperation can go in states like Kentucky and Tennessee. Massachusetts got the memo and is applying these principles in-state. According to a release by the Department of Housing and Economic Development, the state’s ability to invest is seen as necessary to “leverage additional investments by private companies to deliver complete solutions to customers in regions without broadband access.”

Massachusetts gets it. Access to broadband is essential if Americans are going to realize the benefits if offers through increased access to affordable health care, better education, a greener environment and jobs. Read the memo — public-private partnerships are a great place to start.

Click here to read the full release

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• The report cites the United States as 7th fastest county in the world for broadband speeds.   20% of the broadband connections in the US are faster than 5 Mbps.  
• The report also lists the 10 fastest U.S. states.   Delaware leads with 60% of connections from the state connecting to the Akamai network at speeds over 5 Mbps.

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Connected Cardiac Care

E-Visits Patient

Allowing Patients to Live Their Lives

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