J. Erik Garr, PricewaterhouseCoopers- former General Manager, National Broadband Plan, Federal Communications Commission
Presentation summary
- Broadband: general purpose technology driving innovation, economic growth, social benefits
- Jobs – jobs for installation and servicing of broadband technology infrastructure, jobs using broadband technology to innovate
- Inequality – need to address unequal access to broadband coverage
- Government - role of government in facilitating broadband expansion at the federal, state and local level
- Economic competitiveness – increasing the technological capital and economic competitiveness of the United States with broadband
- Policy implications:
- Investment – reduce deployment cost; R&D
- Inclusion – reform universal service program, increase adoption
- Public purposes – use broadband to improve education, health care, public safety, energy conservation