FCC Chair Says Broadband Top Goal

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "FCC chairman Kevin Martin says 'his top goal is to increase Americans access to high-speed Internet,' the Wall Street Journal reports. 'Late last week, he began circulating plans to loosen rules so neither phone nor cable companies will be required to share their Internet connections with competitors like America Online, a change that essentially would create a duopoly in many local markets. He also embraces the idea that local governments should be allowed to offer wireless Internet services, at least in rural areas where some phone and cable companies balk at providing high-speed service.' The Journal also has a transcript of its interview with Martin, in which he discusses indecency and whether broadcast rules should also apply to satellite and cable."

Comments

Shyeah

[BronxBomber]

This plan becomes about providing a service that only the middle/upper classes and business can really afford.

Look, I am not screaming for the liberals to come to the rescue here (I am a moderate and fall on both sides of the political fence on a lot of things), but to me, this seems like more corporate kowtowing by the government.

Why does the government care if I have access to broadband, but does not care enough about the lower classes who cannot afford computers?

Mr. Martin (and the FCC) fail to address the growing "technocracy" brewing in this country. There is no discussion on how this increased access will positively affect communities, specifically those with great economic need, and instead focus on corporate revenues and ensuring that "more companies have a chance to make money in broadband"

Maybe its just me, but perhaps the Bush administration should focus on the US's literacy and mathematical skills compared to the rest of the globe, as opposed to our position in the world's broadband distribution.