Coalition calls on next U.S. administration to adopt broadband expansion strategy

Two weeks after the National Association of Telecommunications Officers & Advisors (NATOA) declared the U.S. is at a crisis point on the future of its telecommunications infrastructure, another organization is calling for the next administration to make broadband access an "early and high-level priority."

As with the NATOA, the nternet Innovation Alliance (IIA) advcocates a national broadband strategy it says should be comprised of a "coherent set of policies and goals to accelerate universal adoption of high speed Internet." The IIA calls on the next administration to provide investment incentives and encourage public-private partnerships to expand broadband infrastructure and availability.

“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s history,” said Bruce Mehlman, co-chair of the IIA, which describes itself as a broad-based coalition of business and non-profit organizations. “To compete and win in the 21^st century, we must ensure the United States capitalizes on the extraordinary economic, technological and societal opportunities presented by broadband. The benefits are undeniable and compelling.”

Ironically, one of IIA's members is AT&T, whose failure to invest in upgrading its infrastructure, particularly over the last mile to homes and businesses, is a major cause of the pathetic state of U.S. broadband access.