You are here Election impact on Communications and the Democrats universal broadband industrial policy
Submitted by Scott Cleland on Wed, 2006-11-08 12:06
FCC Democratic Commissioner Copps editorial in the Washington Post, America's Internet Disconnect" is a very good guide to how the debate over communications policy and net neutrality will shift with Democratic asendancy in Congress. Â
I have the utmost respect for Commissioner Copps personally even though I generally disagree with his conclusions when we look at the same set of facts or analysis. It probably results from his greater trust in government than markets and my greate trust in markets than government.
Why this editorial is so instructive is that Commissioner Copps captures the essence of what Democrats see wrong with the current broadband marketplace what they might do differently if given the chance.
To summarize, Mr. Copps believes: "the fact that broadband is too slow, too expensive and too poorly subscribed is a significant drag on the economy."
Mr. Copps also asks "How have we fallen behind? Through lack of competition."
Good well-intentioned people can also totally agree on the goals and still completely disagree on the means to get there.
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Mr. Copps is trying to set up a sequence of assertions (that he hopes won't be challenged) so people will reach his same conclusion -- that America needs "a broadband strategy for America" i.e. an industrial policy that uses government intervention to speed deployment, lower prices and increase speeds.
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Another thing Mr. Copps is leaving out is the "magic wand" needed for government to speed deployment, lower prices and increase speeds.
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If the "magic wand" he is intimating is FCC micromanagment of network elements' prices terms and conditions a la Reed Hudnt, or tax policy a la Senator Rockefeller, its not a broadband "magic wand" but a broadband wrecking ball!
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How soon Democrats can forget that we are still a market driven economy where people and companies have to have the opportunity to compete, earn a profit and a return on investment.
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Lastly, don't fall for the assertion that foreign broadband is so much cheaper than here.
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