National Broadband Plan Debuts

Finally, it’s here – the National Broadband Plan. Released yesterday by the Federal Communications Commission, the National Broadband Plan mandated in last year’s stimulus legislation lays out a broad, aspirational and ultimately attainable vision for achieving universal broadband service across the United States.  With the release of the Plan, the national conversation on the information needs of Americans in the 21st Century takes a giant step forward.

The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy stands squarely behind the goal of ensuring universal access to high-speed Internet service in this country, having recommended that the nation “set ambitious standards for nationwide broadband availability and adopt public policies encouraging consumer demand for broadband services” (recommendation #8).  The FCC’s Plan picks up right where the Knight Commission report recommended.

The Plan defines the end point and a road map to get there. The robust debate that now ensues will decide how far we go and what path we take to get there. Information and communications technologies are so much a part of everyday life, there is no shortage of areas to capture public interest and attention in this debate. Economic opportunity, education, healthcare, energy and environment, government performance, civic engagement and public safety — all are covered in the National Broadband Plan.

The Knight Commission has said, “Information is as vital to the healthy functioning of communities as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.” Broadband is increasingly the way we access that information in the digital age. The Commission encourages everyone to get involved and be heard in the conversation and debate. The information issue is everyone’s issue.