Robert L. Mitchell’s “Keeping a Lid on Broadband” article in the Jan. 28 Computerworld is a serious mischaracterization of broadband reality in the United States. His call for re-regulation of the Internet would be the real “disaster.” Going back to the old days of heavy regulation of the telecommunications industry would be the policy equivalent of a government mandate for all Americans to revert to rotary dial phones.

In the era of Google, YouTube, and Facebook — or the next phenomenon from the marketplace of tech wonders that we can’t yet envision — the idea that regulation is the answer is simply wrongheaded. The broadband industry, in concert with many public-private partnerships, is developing critical new advanced services that provide better educational opportunities through distance learning. What about health care? Using broadband to connect hard-to-reach areas can save American seniors $800 billion a year and by telecommuting we can help the environment and prevent billions of tons of greenhouse gases while reducing US dependence on foreign oil.

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National Journal Technology Daily
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Yesterday, USTelecom CEO Walter McCormick talked to the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council — I previewed the event last week. There’s been a great turnout, and he had good company at the conference — yesterday FCC Commissioners Adelstein and McDowell were both on hand.

One running theme at the conference is the importance of getting broadband to all Americans. McCormick made that point in his remarks, and also touted the incredible benefits that come with the increased access to high-speed Internet: Employment opportunities. Environmental benefits. Innovative health care options. Long distance learning. Read more in McCormick’s remarks from the conference here.

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Last week, the Pew Internet and American Life Project released its annual report on home broadband adoption. There’s good news for industry watchers concerned about the “digital divide €? between the technology haves and have-nots: the fastest growth in broadband adoption over the last year has been in groups for whom broadband has thus far been largely unattainable for reasons of both cost and geography. Residents of rural areas, some minority groups, those with less than a high school degree, and lower income households — all saw increased growth.

Market competition and falling prices have made broadband’s potential €”for everything from distance learning to high-speed movie downloads to telemedicine €”a reality for an ever-more inclusive population.

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Today, the Federal Trade Commission’s Internet Access Task Force issued its report titled “Broadband Connectively Competition Policy. €? The report can be found in its entirety here.

The report is an exhaustive summary of the debate over whether we should regulate the Internet by an agency whose mission is protecting competition and maximizing consumer welfare. One major contribution of the report is that it brings economic analysis to bear on the debate.

There are a couple major points to the report. First, after two days of public hearings and countless pages of comments, there is still no evidence of “market failure or demonstrated harm €? to consumers. In the land of hypothetical harms, what need is there for real world rules?

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NextGenWeb.org continued its extensive coverage today during day 2 of this year’s NXTcomm conference in Chicago. Click this link to see what industry experts and providers are saying about new technologies and services and the importance broadband plays in their rollout and development.

Click Here for Complete Coverage

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