BUSH HIGHLIGHTS NEED OF BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
President Bush touted deployment of broadband as vital for economic recovery during economic forum in Waco, Tex. Bush’s comments on broadband were brief and made half-way through his address at closing session of forum, but several telecom companies and associations reacted to news with various interpretations. “In order to make sure the economy grows, we must bring the promise of broadband technology to millions of Americans,” Bush said. He emphasized that broadband shouldn’t be taxed and that technology would keep America on “cutting edge of innovation.” “If you want something to be used more, you don’t tax it,” he said. “The Federal Communications Commission is focusing on policies to encourage high-speed Internet service for every home and every business in America.” Industry is still waiting for comprehensive broadband policy to come from administration. In fact, Sen. Lieberman (D-Conn.) has introduced legislation that would compel administration to develop policy.
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U.S. Telecom Assn. (USTA) and BellSouth were quick to praise Bush’s statement. “If this recovery is to proceed, we need the President’s words to be followed by prompt government action,” said Walter McCormick, USTA pres. “We need the FCC to move quickly to move quickly and aggressively to establish U.S. broadband policy that applies the same rules to the same service, no matter what technology platform those services use. And, we need Congress to establish a level regulatory playing field in order to maximize broadband competition and investment.” McCormick touted Breaux-Nickles Broadband Parity Act as means to achieve such regulatory parity. Hershel Abbott, BellSouth vp-govt. affairs, said : “It demonstrates the growing realization in official Washington that the same rules ought to apply to every company that offers broadband high-speed Internet access services to the American public.”
Bush implied some issues that are delaying broadband deployment in his statement, said Robert McDowell, CompTel vp and asst. gen. counsel. CompTel also supported Bush’s statement, including part in which Bush said: “The private sector will deploy broadband. But government at all levels should remove hurdles that slow the pace of deployment.” McDowell said Bush was acknowledging role cities and counties have broadband deployment, including rights-of-way issues and franchise fees. McDowell said that though administration hasn’t formulated deployment policy, it has made significant policy statements to foster broadband demand, including: procurement policy, telecommuting policy, e-govt. and network redundancy. Also, McDowell said Bush’s comments were consistent with remarks he made June 13 to telecom and information technology (IT) executives.
Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg also spoke technology panel at forum. His comments weren’t available, but Verizon spokeswoman said he would focus on 4 points: (1) Telecom meltdown is at heart of economic crisis. (2) Govt. policy implemented in 1990s fueled collapse of value of telecom market. (3) Key policy decisions will get telecom market and economy back on road to growth. (4) Healthy technology and telecom sector can lead U.S. to new decade of growth and innovation. Meg Whitman, Pres. and CEO of EBay, also spoke at forum, highlighting need for better education, especially in science and math, and said govt. need to place more emphasis on research and development. She said govt. need to address “morass of lawsuits” that were hampering business and said tax cut should be made permanent.