요약

The deployment of broadband telecommunications services could have as great an impact on

society as the appearance of the printing press in the 15th century and television and radio in

the 20th. Broadband technologies have the potential to bring about unprecedented benefits to

consumers and to our national economy. If the U.S. adopts the right policy framework,

emphasizing competition and limited regulation, the growth of broadband technologies will

significantly strengthen our democracy and every individual’s economic empowerment.

Unfortunately, broadband services are at risk of being controlled by gatekeepers who have the

ability to skew the marketplace against the interests of consumers. As a result of recent

mergers in the telecommunications and cable industries, broadband provision is increasingly

dominated by a duopoly that is under no obligation to ensure that their networks are open and

accessible to all users and applications. Moreover, outdated government spectrum policies

have placed artificial limits on broadband deployment. In large part because of these

developments, the U.S. ranks only 16th in the world in broadband adoption.