The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Telecommunications Industry Association held a virtual press conference last week on the business sector’s perspective on the national broadband strategy.
Representatives from each organization previewed their FCC national broadband plan NOI filings and discussed the need for continued network expansion noting that network investment creates jobs, helps businesses stay competitive and drives economic growth.
“Broadband is essential for job creation and economic growth,” said Jason Goldman, counsel for telecommunications & e-commerce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “To ensure that our nation realizes the full benefits of broadband, federal policies must not deter private-sector investment in broadband infrastructure, which totaled $60 billion last year.”
Organizations also noted that the policies that create government regulations should not be a part of national broadband plan.
“Broadband helps small businesses expand, create jobs and fuel economic growth,” said Marc-Anthony Signorino, director of technology policy, National Association of Manufacturers. “Manufacturers believe the government’s role in a National Broadband Plan should be to simplify, deregulate and incentivize wherever possible.”
“A strong, properly implemented National Broadband Plan will improve lives, enhance innovation, and help restore America’s long-term prosperity and reassure its global competitiveness,” said TIA Vice President for Government Affairs Danielle Coffey. “We applaud the Commissioners for taking on this serious and urgent task and we thank the FCC, Congress and President Obama for identifying broadband as a top priority critical to our nation’s infrastructure. We look forward to advising the FCC on behalf of the Internet Communications Technology industry on shaping a broadband strategy and defining its goals.”
