CWA: FCC's Call to Clarify Broadband Issues Will Move Buildout Forward

CWA commended the FCC for continuing to work to resolve the confused "net neutrality" debate that has stalled the buildout of high speed broadband and caused the digital divide in the U.S. to grow worse.

The FCC has said it is looking to better define some key elements of broadband communications, like "unreasonable discrimination," managed services and other elements of mobile/wireless networks.

In response to the FCC's proposed rule-making, CWA said that "the FCC's processes and actions have brought majority support for its open Internet or net neutrality principles: free speech, no blocking, no discrimination and transparency. CWA and other organizations in the progressive community including national civil rights, environmental and labor groups have called for targeted legislation to implement these principles and make Universal Service Funds available for buildout. We reiterate that call now."

CWA believes that the U.S. Congress should move forward where this is a broad consensus on rules of the road for the wireline Internet while continuing to clarify the record on emerging issues.

Without support for buildout, the U.S. broadband communications network will continue to fall behind that of the rest of the world. That's why CWA supports targeted legislation, along with a goal of 1 gigabyte of broadband service for anchor institutions - hospitals, schools and libraries -- in every community, especially rural and poorer urban areas.

"Millions of Americans remain shut out of the benefits of the Internet Age. We need action to build a true 21st century Internet," CWA said.