CWA: Waxman/Boucher Approach Right Way to Move Broadband Build Out Forward

For release September 30, 2010

Contact: Candice Johnson and Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org.

The Communications Workers of America sees the proposal by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Representative Rick Boucher (D-Va.) to clarify the FCC’s authority to safeguard an open Internet as resolution to national challenge.

Washington, D.C. - The Communications Workers of America today praised the roadmap laid out by Chairman Henry Waxman and Representative Rick Boucher to ensure an open Internet as a decisive resolution to the debate around net neutrality, a debate that has stalled build out of the 21st century broadband networks our economy and our nation desperately need.

CWA firmly believes the Waxman/Boucher plan to end that gridlock will shift our focus to the investment that will finally allow the United States to catch up with the rest of the world while at the same time creating new good, family supporting jobs.

Further, CWA also believes the Federal Communications Commission has shown through its actions that it can and will vigorously enforce the open Internet principles of free speech, with no blocking, no discrimination and complete transparency.

Chairman Waxman' and Rep. Boucher’s approach can provide the consensus we need to move build-out forward.

CWA has argued for years that the lack of high speed broadband has real implications for our country's economic growth, particularly for residents in rural areas and urban communities who need the medical monitoring and online education, as well as for communities that need broadband to survive. CWA has called for 1 gigabit of broadband service to anchor institutions - hospitals, schools and libraries -- in every community, especially rural and poorer urban areas as a start.