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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