I personally think the Markey proposal to spend $36 million for a "national broadband map" is a monumental waste of taxpayer money and really bad "policy".
- We don't have even a "national" broadband problem, we have more broadband facilities based competition and investment than any nation in the world.
- We may have a rural broadband lag, and if a map is needed at all it could only be justified for rural areas and it would only cost a fraction of the $36m.
- If Chairman Markey proposed a rural broadband map I would be much more muted in my criticism.
However, there is a not so hidden agenda lurking here.
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A "national" broadband map is a transparent political scheme to re-define the issue so pro-regulation and pro-net neutrality proponents can define away "competition" and current policy success with a stroke of a pen.
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If they can define away satellite and the 5 national wireless providers as broadband competitors, they can smugly say "I told you so" broadband is really a monopoly/duopoly and declare competition policy a failure!
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Then they could have a policy basis for mandating net regulation, subsidies and net neutrality!
The reason they want a national broadband policy is that they want a one-size-fits-all national policy like net neutrality which ensures everyone gets the same broadband service regardless of different needs, wants or means.
It still amazes me how Chairman Markey and his fellow Big Government/net neutrality proponents can not see that competition and not regulating the Internet has been a fabulous, albeit imperfect success for the United States.
I hope Congress is smart enough to oppose Chairman Markey and his Big Government allies transparent attempt to micromanage the Internet and the digital economy.
If it is not broke don't fix it!
Watch out and watch your wallet.
