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Overview

Jul 01 2008

In the last few years there have been major changes in the telecommunications environment. There is growing recognition bythe public sector, businesses and communities that telecommunications infrastructure and services play an important role in economic transformation, sustainability and social well-being. The rise of more advanced Internet technologies has increased the demand for infrastructure far beyond the level previously needed. We are faced with the challenge of getting universal, affordable high-speed Internet deployed, especially to under-served and un-served areas. The challenge that we face is how to get universal affordable high-speed Internet deployed,especially to under-served and un-served areas.

In order to achieve universal and affordablehigh-speed Internet, states must implement intertwining policies that increase access to, and adoption of high-speed Internet. States need to identify where access to high-speed Internetcurrently exists, develop deployment strategies to increase affordable high-speed Internet access and adoption in under-served and un-served areas, and develop policies that ensure community and consumer protections in infrastructure build-out.

Core Universal and AffordableHigh-speed Internet Policies:

 

From the Dispatch

Washington State Legislature Passes Legislation Aimed at Increasing both Access and Adoption of Broadband

Apr 30 2009

With the passage of  HB 1701 theWashington State legislature once again demonstrated its understandingthat when combating the digital divide states must not just addressaccess issues, but must also focus on dealing with the barriers to broadband adoption by individuals.

Making Broadband a Key Part of States' Economic Recovery

Mar 16 2009

This Dispatch will outline how funds allocated in the ARRA aim to support broadband initiatives and how states can leverage broadband to create efficiencies, increase opportunities and begin to bridge a major resource divide in our country by implementing progressive broadband initiatives.

Taking Action to Protect PEG Public Access Stations- Illinois Investigating AT&T

Feb 05 2009

AT&T's new cutting-edge television service, U-Verse, is creating headaches for community programming channels and being investigated by both state and federal officials.  After receiving a large number of complaints, Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, launched an investigation into the U-Verse system's underminging of  access to PEG channels (i.e. Public Education and Government stations). 

Feds Approve Broadband Data Improvement Act

Oct 17 2008

Congress has passed — and President Bush has signed — the Broadband Data Improvement Act.  The Act, which had been pushed by Senate Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and supported by a coalition of organizations, such as the Communications Workers of America, has as its explicit purpose "to improve the quality of Federal and State data regarding the availability and quality of broadband services and to promote the deployment of affordable broadband services to all parts of the Nation." 

A First Look at How McCain and Obama's Policies Would Affect the States

Oct 13 2008

There are stark differences between the two presidential campaigns' approaches to federal-state relationships.  Differences range from the amount of funding appropriated for programs run by the states to whether the candidates would strengthen or weaken state regulatory authority.

Statewide Video Franchising Legislation: Bad Bills in Tennessee & Louisiana, and an Innovative Approach in Minnesota

May 01 2008

Legislatorsin both Tennessee and Louisiana have heavily promoted statewide videofranchising legislation this session.  Just this past week the Tennessee House approved HB 1421, the "Competitive Cable and Video Services Act," while Louisiana legislators have introduced multiple statewide franchising bills, with SB 807 having the most momentum.  The common thread between each Louisiana bill is that they are all bad for consumers.  

Michigan Fights to Ensure PEG Channels Are Available to All

Feb 21 2008

The future is very uncertain for public, education and government (PEG) channels.  These local channels have traditionally been carried by cable companies as a public service to highlight local community and public voices.  Historically, PEG channels have been receivable on both analog and digital service, ensuring that PEG stations were accessible by any individual with a television, regardless of income level or cable package.  Now that the Digital TV transition is looming for broadcasters, the question is what happens to these channels.  Comcast, a service provider, is not required to, nor going to, go "all digital" as of February 2009, but is attempting to use the transition as an excuse to reduce access to PEG channels.

Mapping and Deploying High-Speed Broadband

Feb 11 2008

The Bush administration recently declared it has largely succeeded in supplying affordable high-speed Internet access to all Americans,despite the fact that most Americans would probably describe theirInternet access as slow, expensive, and frustrating.  Most analysts arenowhere near as optimistic as Bush's "Networked Nation: Broadband in America." These analysts highlight that the U.S. has fallen to 15th in world rankings for broadband connectivityand that Americans pay much higher fees for much slower speeds thanmost of the industrial nations in the world.  Misguided regulatorypolicies and substandard infrastructure have helped create a sub-parbroadband network in the United States.