FCC Vote Moves U.S. Forward on Broadband

The vote by the the Federal Communications Commission approving Chairman Genachowski’s initiative to adopt open Internet rules means the U.S. can move forward on broadband buildout in a way that will create quality jobs, sustainable communities and enable the U.S. to catch up with the rest of the world.

The FCC’s action will protect an open Internet while providing the needed incentives for investment and economic development. The plan codifies the FCC’s open Internet principles, which call for no discrimination, full transparency, no blocking and free speech, and cover wireless technology while acknowledging technological differences.

As CWA’s 2010 “Speed Matters” report on Internet Speed demonstrated, the U.S. has a long way to go to meet the standards of a true 21^st century broadband infrastructure. Currently, half of Americans' broadband connections do not meet the FCC standard of 4 megabits per second (mbps) download and 1 mbps upload. Read more at www.speedmatters.org.

For residents in rural communities and lower-income urban areas, the digital divide persists. CWA and other organizations, including national civil rights and environmental groups, are calling for more initiatives to support broadband buildout and adoption, as part of the FCC’s national broadband plan.