Broadband policy is complicated enough, but in the face of losing authority as a result of the recent DC Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the FCC is seeking to reclassify broadband service into a category that will give the agency more jurisdiction to regulate as it sees fit. A recent Washington Post editorial joined a chorus of other opinion pieces questioning the FCC’s controversial move.

Here’s an excerpt from the WaPost piece on the FCC’s move to classify broadband as a Title II service:

This approach is also unacceptable. For some eight years, the agency has argued that broadband constitutes an “information service” and that it should be subject only to a light regulatory touch. To reverse course now by classifying broadband as a telecommunications service would require the agency to throw out years of its own data and analysis. While agencies have broad latitude in reevaluating regulatory schemes, reversals should be linked to significant market shifts. The facts do not support such a conclusion, and the FCC should not now try to shoehorn broadband into an existing — but incompatible — regulatory scheme.

The Washington Post article goes on to suggest that interested parties should work with Congress to form “clear but limited rules.” This premise brings to mind the recent vision Tom Tauke, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Policy and Communications at Verizon and former member of Congress, outlined at NDN where he called for a new policy framework that would best benefit the Internet ecosystem. Specifically, Tauke calls on Congress to provide certainty to an otherwise uncertain process. “Now is the time to focus on updating the laws affecting the Internet. To fulfill broadband’s potential it’s time for Congress to take a fresh look at our nation’s communications policy framework.”

Please see some excerpts below from that speech Tauke delivered at an event hosted by Simon Rosenberg and NDN.

The need for Congress to provide clarity on the Internet ecosystem:

Industry collaboration on important policy issues:

The need for certainty:

Dangers of 1930’s statues on 21st century technologies:

Confronting the tough question of jurisdictional authority:

As Tauke got deeper into his speech, he outlined four principles that he said would establish the right statutory framework for the Internet moving forward. Here are the key points:

1) Consumers must be fully empowered. This includes choice in devices, access, products and services. Empowered means also well-informed through understandable and transparent information.

2) Consumer must feel safe. This includes online security and privacy, which should be consistent and uniform across the ecosystem.

3) Consumer access and adoption must be priorities. Consumers should receive direct support from the government, including competitive subsidies that are technology neutral.

4) Government should protect consumers and ensure a properly functioning free market. The test should be whether action is necessary to prevent harm or anticompetitive behavior. If issues are not resolved through industry self-governance, then it would go to agency

Stay tuned to NextGenWeb as we continue to cover this developing conversation in Congress.

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Today, NextGenWeb listened to AT&T’s Cathy Martine as she spoke at the Phoenix awards luncheon held in honor of National Small Business Week. The Phoenix awards are given to three disaster recovery heroes whose efforts and contributions have enabled their businesses or communities to recover successfully from a disaster. The conference is a public/private sector event themed “Small Business Innovation” with around 700-800 small business attendees.

Ms. Martine was quick to point out the importance of small business on the national economy, particularly those cities and states trying to recover after a disaster. For success, small businesses need the best tools and technology that companies like AT&T make available. AT&T has invested $55 billion in recent years and plans to contribute another $19 billion that will expand even more America’s broadband networks that deliver the kinds of apps and innovations that consumers enjoy today.

Ms. Martine said, “Nearly two-thirds of small businesses could not survive, or it would be a very large challenge to survive, without wireless technology… small businesses are the heart and soul of the American economy.”

More solutions are made available to AT&T’s three-million small business customers on a daily basis. Those solutions help small business customers run more effective businesses and help further fuel America’s economic growth and innovation engine.

Clearly a win-win situation for all involved.

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Click below to watched archived footage.

Part 1

Part 2

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Yesterday the House Small Business Committee held a hearing that examined the impact broadband is having on American small businesses. You don’t have to look far to find an economist that says both small business and broadband are crucial to the growth of the American economy. Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) said that the number of jobs dependent on broadband are expected to grow by 25% over the next 10 years.

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.

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Broadband adoption and online literacy should be the central focus of broadband policy in the United States. That was the message that came out of a recent event on Capitol Hill hosted by the Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP) at the New York Law School. The event featured remarks by Charles Davidson, Director of ACLP, Debra Berlyn, Executive Director of the Project to Get Older Adults Online (GOAL), and Thomas Kamber, Executive Director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS).

Davidson opened the event by making one point clear: adoption is a critical issue that affects at least six other major sectors or demographics. These include senior citizens, people with disabilities, telemedicine, energy, education, and government. Each sector or demographic have their own unique concerns and challenges when it comes to increasing broadband adoption.

Davidson also highlighted recent comments submitted to the FCC by a host of organizations representing senior citizens and people with disabilities. In short, the comments point out the ways that broadband can change lives in these two demographics for the better, as well as the need for flexibility with regards to network management to ensure that services such as real-time telemedicine delivery and video relay services can be delivered effectively and on time.

Following the event, NextGenWeb interviewed Davidson to talk about the importance of broadband adoption and the comments filed with the FCC highlighted above, as well as Berlyn, who discussed how broadband is transforming the lives of senior citizens all across the country.

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At an incredibly timely event hosted today by Adam Thierer and the Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF), a panel with great history and expertise on communications law and policy gathered to discuss what the next “communications act” may look like. What made today’s discussion even more relevant was the speech given yesterday by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, where he outlined a new, and some would say aggressive, regulatory scheme as it relates to America’s broadband marketplace. That added a little bit of edge on the conversation focused on updating the nation’s telecommunications laws. Looking at the FCC and how it will proceed after the Chairman’s speech yesterday, the skies seem cloudy at best in terms of what authority it has to create an unprecedented regulatory scheme on a broadband market that many economists and academics agree is working extremely well.

Link Hoewing from Verizon discussed some of the principles raised in the speech Verizon EVP Tom Tauke gave at NDN last month – in part highlighting the need for a new statutory framework to govern the 21st Century Internet ecosystem. But of all the points Hoewing raised, what was most interesting – and practical – was the idea of a technical working group that was outlined in Verizon’s joint filing with Google to the FCC. This is not exactly a revolutionary concept, meaning shouldn’t governance include experts and Internet engineers from industry, academia, government and even the advocacy community? Hoewing gave the all-too familiar example of the Comcast/BitTorrent incident where he said Comcast had a legit congestion issue on their network. They were certain it was being caused by P2P applications. Had there been such a working group, Comcast could have brought the issue to the table, outlined their opinion and assumed course of action, and then worked out the best solution with input from the Internet community. All seems pretty straightforward – and sensible – and streamlined. And it gets everyone involved in lieu of the political name-slaying that is too-often occurs when the issue of Net neutrality – or network management – gets discussed.

Walter McCormick, President and CEO of USTelecom, The Broadband Association, painted a great vision of an Internet governance framework that is consistent with the aspirations of the country. He spoke of how 95% of Americans access the Internet at a rate of 4MB or above, and that consumer satisfaction is at record highs. Mr. McCormick stressed that certainty is what’s needed in the one part of the economy that is creating jobs and is ripe with innovation. Unfortunately, specifically if you ask analysts on Wall Street, it appears the FCC is only creating uncertainty in its continued attempt to find ways to regulate a highly competitive broadband marketplace.

All were agreed that the current state of the Internet in the U.S. is by no means a utopia. Panelists spoke of the need for more speed, and the need for creative solutions to connect the 5% of Americans who remain unconnected (at a cost of $24B according to a recent FCC technical paper).

But we liked Link Hoewing’s Olympics analogy where he said, “We didn’t win everything, but on the whole we were the most competitive, successful country across the board when you looked at the big picture.” When you look at the facts, and we stress you need to take an objective look at the facts, it’s hard to disagree.

Click here to watch complete archived footage of the event.

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You have probably heard us talk about how broadband is green in terms of enabling everything from the smart grid to telecommuting. And while this is all true (check out our “Broadband and Green Technology” page), what we haven’t highlighted is what American telecom companies are doing to lead the way in energy efficiency standards. Chuck Graff, Director of Core Network and Technologies at Verizon presented at the Broadband Properties Summit on what Verizon is doing to be a leader in energy efficiency. Verizon has a set of energy efficiency initiatives that include electrical, environmental and energy requirements, all with the purpose of reducing carbon emissions. Click below to learn more about how Verizon is leading the way.

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In a panel focused on telemedicine at the Broadband Properties Summit 2010, two major themes emerged – access and cost savings. Broadband-enabled telemedicine applications increase access to quality, affordable healthcare for millions of Americans, including those in rural communities and the aging population. Immense cost savings can also be realized through telemedicine, thanks largely to reduced travel costs.

Nancy Green, Managing Principal of the Healthcare Practice at Verizon Business, focused her remarks on the benefits of telemedicine for the aging population. Home monitoring tools, delivered over state-of-the-art broadband networks, allow patients to stay in their homes longer. Green also touched on the quality of video that can be delivered over broadband, allowing for better and faster care right in the home.

Rob Scheschareg, President and Co-founder of MedConcierge, highlighted the cost savings that can be realized thanks to telemedicine. Scheschereg said, “With healthcare, there’s a need but not a want.” Broadband creates for a more favorable value proposition for both consumers and providers. Broadband also allows for tailored healthcare delivery, be it through the dynamic presentation of vital signs or educational videos.

Click below to see exclusive interviews with Green and Scheschereg.

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NextGenWeb is at the Broadband Properties Summit 2010 in Dallas, TX. We will be covering panels on issues ranging from telemedicine, the importance of broadband to rural communities, broadband and economic development, and broadband and green technology. Stay tuned for coverage including exclusive interviews with presenters. Click below to see an interview with Hilda Legg, Vice Chair of Broadband Properties, who discusses the trending topics at the summit.

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What role does broadband play in disaster response and recovery? An important and versatile one, according to a panel of experts who spoke today at the Brookings Institute. The panel, titled “Telehealth and Mobile Communications: The New Frontier in Modern Emergency Preparedness,” featured Dr. Alexander Vo, Executive Director of the AT&T Center for Telehealth Research and Policy at the University of Texas at Galveston, Marion Orr, Director of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions at Brown University, and Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Disaster Services at the American Red Cross.

Becker discussed the results of a recent survey that aimed to determine the likelihood of people to evacuate when faced with the prospect of a looming natural disaster. He also talked about how social media is dramatically changing the way leaders in the emergency response sector are doing business, citing the American Red Cross specifically. Becker also touched on the importance of leveraging technologies that people use in their every day life and making them part of the disaster response equation.

Dr. Alexander Vo discussed a recent study released by the University of Texas Medical Branch titled, “UTMB Telemedicine Disaster Response and Recovery: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike.” The study examines the role of broadband in delivering telemedicine applications, especially in the event of a natural disaster or major emergency. Vo stressed the importance of telemedicine networks partnering with state and local governments as well as commercial broadband providers in order to ensure that the information is delivered reliably. Dr. Vo made what is sure to be a splash for those who get caught up in the “rankings” game. When asked what country is setting the example in telemedicine programs, Dr. Vo answered the United States in both application and practice, with a major contributing factor being broadband infrastructure availability.

Click below to watch more from Dr. Vo in his exclusive interview with NextGenWeb.

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