The Technology Policy Institute and the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy gathered broadband policy leaders to get their reactions to the release of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.  To get the event started, Blair Levin, Executive Director of the FCC’s Omnibus Broadband Initiative, shared introductory remarks.  Levin believes the data-driven plan lays out a broad agenda for government action.  Levin also responded to pessimists who believe the plan didn’t go far enough, saying that “a bold plan without a chance of being implemented would not have brought real change.” To add a touch of humor to a very important issue, Levin noted that the plan also includes a Shakespeare quote, likely a first for a government document of this nature.  He also didn’t miss the chance to highlight the critical role private investment plays in the national goal of getting everyone online. 

Jim Cicconi of AT&T, Kyle McSlarrow of National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Peter Pitsch of Intel, Gregory Rosston of Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, and Tom Tauke of Verizon comprised the first panel.   Cicconi believes that the plan accurately reflects the important role that private investment has in broadband and recognizes the reality that government cannot afford it alone.  Tauke agreed, saying that the response from the investment community has been “supportive to neutral” since the plan was released, but believes we need even more certainty about agency authority and the role of regulation to truly to reach our 21^st century network potential.

The second panel focused on addressing the underserved and was deliberated by Robert Crandall of the Brookings Institution, Walter McCormick, President and CEO of USTelecom, Lee Rainie of the Pew Internet and America Life Project, Robert Shapiro of the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy, and Joe Waz of Comcast.  Panelists are eager to embrace the new data that breaks down adoption challenges even further, and explore the experiments that the National Broadband Plan sets forth to identify which actions will best encourage adoption, particularly among low-income and minority communities.  As McCormick put it, “the goals of the FCC’s plan are eminently achievable.”

Click below to watch archived footage of the event.

Blair Levin Keynote Address

Panel 1

Panel 2

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