From tweeting lawmakers to bold ideas for our nation’s recovery, President Obama’s address last night was truly inspiring. He offered an ambitious and hopeful vision of the road to recovery, and I couldn’t agree more with his confident assertion that “the answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach.” In fact, at virtually every turn last night, we encountered a familiar theme to many of us engaged in online policy debates €”the power of broadband to connect the country to the next wave of American growth, innovation and opportunity.

Education. When President Obama talks about ensuring all Americans have access to a complete and competitive education, broadband is the resource that ensures this access no matter where people live €”connecting students to everything from online mentoring to a whole world of opportunities to expand horizons and thrive.

Health Care. It is beyond time for real reform, and health IT is key to getting costs under control while advancing the quality of patient care. Kudos to our connected president for his shout-out to electronic medical records that can reduce debilitating, often fatal errors and make health care more efficient.

Energy. Not only can we rebuild and renew, but we can do it smarter. From telecommuting to reduced air travel, broadband offers many sophisticated ways to boost productivity while reducing dependence on foreign oil and our impact on the earth.

Jobs. President Obama readily acknowledged that investment in broadband deployment will create jobs, and these direct jobs are just the start. Nearly half of all broadband-fueled jobs are outside the tech sector (think IT professionals in schools, hospitals and your office). President Obama also made a critical and constructive acknowledgement that every time our nation has rallied to renew our economy “government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise.”

I agree with our President that our shared love of country and desire for our nation to succeed must be the starting point of every debate in the critical weeks and months ahead. I look forward to a constructive conversation about how broadband can help move our economy and our lives forward into a bright American future.

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