THE CASE FOR A NATIONAL BROADBAND POLICY
[SOURCE: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, AUTHOR: Robert
Atkinson]
This paper makes the case for proactive public policy support of broadband
telecommunications. It first examines whether the United States has fallen
behind in broadband. It then discusses four reasons why leaving it to the
market alone is likely to lead to slower deployment and take-up of broadband,
especially next generation, high-speed broadband: 1) network externalities; 2)
“prosumer” investment externalities; 3) competitiveness externalities; and 4)
regional externalities. As we transition to a digital society where many
aspects of life will be conducted online, widespread access to broadband is
becoming a central factor in ensuring opportunity for all Americans. Whether or
not all Americans have access to a key enabling technology like broadband is a
legitimate matter of public policy concern. To the extent that some Americans
cannot afford broadband access or cannot subscribe to it, there is an equity
argument that can be made for a government role to ensure widespread adoption.
http://www.itif.org/files/CaseForNationalBroadbandPolicy.pdf
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