FCC's National Broadband Plan: The Early Reaction
Guest post by: Joy Howell, board member of Safe Internet Alliance
I attended what I’m sure is the first of many panel discussions on the new FCC National Broadband Plan yesterday at the National Press Club. Sponsored by the Technology Policy Institute and the Georgetown University Center for Business and Public Policy, the program focused on the FCC’s approach to expanding access to high speed Internet service. The overall focus was from a business perspective with service providers on the first panel discussing the incentives for investment in the networks and the second panel taking up the issue of increasing penetration to underserved and minority populations.
At the end of the first panel discussion among service providers I mentioned that improving access is a terrific first step, but how can we improve adoption? Citing the safety concerns of both those online now and those who have not yet embraced the Internet, I asked the Internet service providers their view of the FCC plan in ultimately overcoming these concerns. Each of them said that safety is a priority for their company, including Verizon, AT&T and Comcast, but conceded that there is much work yet to be done. We want to work with the FCC and Congress as well as software designers, ISP’s and hardware manufacturers to make the Internet both open and safe for all.