The Goal of Universal Broadband

July 26, 2010 written by John Watson

In a recent op-ed in The Miami Herald, Former Mayor of Miami and current Vice Chairman of the Alliance for Digital Equality Manny Diaz used the World Cup as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of providing affordable Internet access for American households nationwide and the challenges that proposed FCC regulations pose to this effort. 

“From Johannesburg to Miami,” Diaz explained, “new technologies allow us to connect in ways never thought possible and provide us with new opportunities to interact with other countries and cultures.”  

To ensure that more communities can be connected, Diaz suggests both private sector investment and smarter government policies.  Diaz fears, however, of heavy-handed federal regulations, which threaten to stymie job creation, stall much-needed investment and raise prices for consumers will thwart opportunities for states at a local level to update legislation of yesterday to support to growing Internet today.   With all the opportunities that broadband presents to consumers, it is important to foster an environment that recruits investment and supports total connectivity.  

This holds true not only from a federal perspective, but also a state and local perspective.  In order to allow broadband to thrive and connectivity to increase in the states, there needs to be a regulatory environment that  encourages broadband investment and deployment.  Just this year, Georgia updated its regulatory structure as it applies to broadband and telecommunications, and as a result, has opened up an environment where broadband will continue to grow.  Other states looking to increase their broadband capabilities could certainly learn from Georgia’s example.

To read Diaz’s full piece, please click here.