Matt Stoller has ties to organizations with some pretty catchy titles …. Internet for Everyone, Save the Internet.  But after reading his latest comments I wonder if he really is interested in an Internet for everyone.

Matt says in one of his most recent posts that Save the Internet has always been about broadband deployment.

Okay, let’s assume that is true.  

For all the talk about the Internet being a cool place to swap music, watch movies and upload videos (which it is), it’s real benefits lie within more accessible and affordable health care, including access to specialty doctors which in many instances is a matter of life and death, especially for rural Americans.  What about the single mom who can take classes online at night after she puts her child to bed?  Or the ability to reduce our rather large carbon footprint by participating in eWork programs that so many businesses (and even government – go Gov. Kaine) are starting to employ?  The Internet is not a silver bullet, but it is part of the solution to some of the biggest challenges facing America. 

So, you would think that somebody who believes in the true spirit of what the Internet can mean to our quality of life certainly would be thrilled when looking at a state like Kentucky.  Rural definitely fits the picture here.  Through the Connect Kentucky program (which despite Stoller’s depictions is a public-private partnership), Kentucky went local, brought people together and now boasts over 90% connectivity. 

Great!  Right?  Well, not according to the “champion” of universal access, Matt Stoller: 

“We’ve killed Connect Kentucky, the major model for the telecoms to drive to universal broadband.”

So wait, the telecoms are involved in broadband deployment?  Oh wait, of course they are.  And that’s a bad thing?  Really?  These are the monsters that invested $70 billion last year in North American infrastructure upgrades.  Oh yeah, and the same ones who this year are throwing a paltry $60 billion in a continued effort to get broadband out. 

So I wonder why Stoller is bragging about how Save the Internet “killed Connect Kentucky.”  And I would think after their article today on Connect Kentucky the Wall Street Journal is also curious.  Ann Carnes writes:

“ConnectKentucky’s efforts, funded 90% by the state and 10% by private businesses and foundations, show how public-private partnerships, as well as a willingness by local governments to work with less-established telecommunications providers, can drive increased access to high-speed Internet service and spur economic development.”

Bottom line, broadband deployment is important. It is technical and it is expensive.  And our federal budget (let alone state governments) sure can’t finance what it takes to build these networks. The innovative partnerships that stemmed from the private sector working with local communities and government is what made Connect Kentucky possible.  These types of partnerships have proved to be valuable not only in broadband deployment, but in identifying solutions to other challenges communities face, like education and public safety.  So I still wonder, what does Stoller mean? 

Internet for Everyone?  Apparently not.

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