Personal Democracy Forum 2008
Note by Mr. John Breyault:
-Adelstein-
The nation needs a national broadband strategy that keeps everyone connected.
The market does not allocate broadband bandwidth the way it should.
We need to keep the Internet open and neutral and keep up with our global competitors
Broadband is being used to outsource jobs to other country, why can't it be used to bring those jobs back?
Broadband impacts healthcare
We still don't have a nationwide interoperable communications system
Telecommuting and smarter energy grids help the environment
Broadband enables disabled people - particularly those coming back from Iraq
Not all the benefits of broadband flow to the broadband providers themselves (market externalities) - example, opening up government to the citizenry does not make money for ISPs but is enabled by broadband
Notes that 99% of the comments to the FCC in comments, letters, and at FCC localism hearings were against conslidation on media
This was all made possible by public involvement thanks to broadband
Need more open processes at the FCC
Urged the FCC to do better studies w/real peer review
Need to involve the public in the process with greater transparency
Notes success of Obama in leveraging technology to empower citizens
Supports the creation of a nationwide CTO
We have to keep an open and free Internet alive
People want decentralized, local media
Dramatic consolidation in broadband providers. It's time for FCC to defend and expand its openness statement
Advocates need to hold government's feet to the fire to make sure it keeps its promises.
The nation needs a national broadband strategy that keeps everyone connected.
The market does not allocate broadband bandwidth the way it should.
We need to keep the Internet open and neutral and keep up with our global competitors
Broadband is being used to outsource jobs to other country, why can't it be used to bring those jobs back?
Broadband impacts healthcare
We still don't have a nationwide interoperable communications system
Telecommuting and smarter energy grids help the environment
Broadband enables disabled people - particularly those coming back from Iraq
Not all the benefits of broadband flow to the broadband providers themselves (market externalities) - example, opening up government to the citizenry does not make money for ISPs but is enabled by broadband
Notes that 99% of the comments to the FCC in comments, letters, and at FCC localism hearings were against conslidation on media
This was all made possible by public involvement thanks to broadband
Need more open processes at the FCC
Urged the FCC to do better studies w/real peer review
Need to involve the public in the process with greater transparency
Notes success of Obama in leveraging technology to empower citizens
Supports the creation of a nationwide CTO
We have to keep an open and free Internet alive
People want decentralized, local media
Dramatic consolidation in broadband providers. It's time for FCC to defend and expand its openness statement
Advocates need to hold government's feet to the fire to make sure it keeps its promises.
