ZeroDivide Statement on FCC's National Broadband Plan

ZeroDivide Statement on FCC’s National Broadband Plan March 16, 2010

ZeroDivide applauds the National Broadband Plan, released today by the Federal Communications Commission. The first-ever federal plan for expanding broadband deployment and use in the U.S., this is a crucial and historic step in ensuring an equitable future for underserved and disadvantaged communities.

100 million people in our country lack high-speed Internet connection at home, and broadband adoption rates among low-income, communities of color, immigrants, rural communities, seniors and individuals with disabilities continue to lag significantly behind the general population.

We are especially pleased to see that the FCC’s plan seeks to address the many barriers to broadband adoption for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Many of our previous recommendations for increasing broadband adoption by underserved and disadvantaged communities are included in the plan. Highlights of the recommendations that we support include:

• Creation of the Connect America Fund, which will spur buildout in unserved areas by moving federal dollars in the Universal Service Fund to broadband networks from legacy, voice-grade telephone infrastructure.
• Removal of barriers preventing state and local governments to own and operate telecom services, known as municipal networks.
• Making changes to the Universal Service Fund that will re-allocate its resources to broadband deployment and adoption.
• Increasing resources to connect schools, libraries and hospitals to high-capacity broadband to serve as robust community access centers.
• Launching a National Digital Literacy Service Corps to train community members in computer skills and amplify public and private sector programs addressed at breaking adoption barriers.
• Sponsoring a national awareness campaign by public and private partners to communicate the benefits of broadband to underserved communities. 
• Collecting and analyzing more comprehensive information on pricing, performance, and competition to foster more efficient policymaking that promotes competition and lower prices, especially in underserved regions.

The real work begins now, as the focus moves to the FCC’s execution of informational proceedings and Congress’ approval of measures required to transform the National Broadband Plan into reality. We welcome the Commission’s indication that it intends to quickly launch dozens of these proceedings to implement first steps.

Setting forward-looking and achievable goals will help the Commission to facilitate deployment and adoption of wireline and wireless broadband service in underserved and unserved communities nationwide.

The digital era is ushering in a new renaissance — but only for those who can participate. The strong recommendations in today’s Broadband Plan to increase adoption by underserved communities are a vital step forward in extending participation to all Americans – a true zero divide.

ZeroDivide is a 501(c)(3) public foundation that has invested more than $45 million over the past 10 years in innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services in unserved and underserved communities. ZeroDivide provides financial support, capacity building and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations that benefit low-income, minority, immigrant, non-English speaking, LGBT, aged and disability communities.