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Adelstein: Broadband An Answer To Media Consolidation
WASHINGTON -- September 22, 2008: FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said at the third annual OneWebDay celebration today, "I'd like to focus in on the importance of setting policy that fosters the best aspects of the Internet and that will help restore our country to a global leadership position in technology. That starts with a national broadband strategy."
In a transcript of Adelstein's prepared remarks, he says broadband deployment is "today's great infrastructure challenge." Broadband touches all the issues being debated in the 2008 election, he said, and "already has a striking impact on the economy -- in terms of productivity, global competition, and outsourcing."
Broadband also, says Adelstein, has "transformational power for democracy, through citizen debates, avenue for political expression, and tools for citizen journalists and commentators." Because it broadband is "critical to our future," he says, "we've got to make sure that it reaches everyone, no matter where they live, the color of their skin, or their educational background."
Adelstein cites research showing that those with low income, seniors, minorities, and those in rural areas trail in Internet access. He says, "Contrary to some views, I believe broadband penetration does matter -- we need to tap all our resources."
Adelstein believes the U.S. must make broadband penetration a higher priority: "We need a national broadband strategy. There is no doubt that the private sector will do the heaviest lifting. But there is also a role for government, because we need everyone to benefit from this array of new services. We need to keep up with our global competitors. And we absolutely must protect Internet freedom."
Adelstein says a key element of any strategy must be "preserving the open and interconnected nature of the Internet." He continues, "One big reason we see such active political communities exploding online is because the Internet was founded on the principles of openness and neutrality."
Adelstein draws a parallel between the "movement for Internet freedom" and what he calls "the movement against media consolidation." He says, "In an age when traditional media markets are dominated by a handful of giant conglomerates, we have optimism about broadband. There is a sense it can restore decentralized, locally rooted, and entrepreneurial voices to the media landscape that are reflective of the best aspects of American media before consolidation."
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