With the passage of legislation in the U.S. Senate earlier this week, we are a step closer to achieving the goal of making broadband Internet access available to more households across America. The Senate joined the House in passing legislation that will require the Federal Communications Commission to compile more data on broadband use, cost and speed in urban, suburban and rural areas. The Census Bureau will kick in with information about Internet use.
The goal of this legislation is to see which communities and areas lack broadband service, based on the assumption that such information will lead to bringing this critical service to those areas. Our hope is that legislative solutions like this will help to educate community leaders about the benefits of broadband deployment, with a focus on public health and telemedicine, public safety, education and distance learning, economic development and civic participation.
Access to cutting-edge technologies is so important to all Americans, and there is an urgent need for a specific voice from minority communities on technology policy. Education is a key to empowerment. For communities and individuals broadband access can open the door of opportunity for children and students to enhance educational opportunities and access to additional resources.
We have long welcomed any improvements that help increase broadband access, particularly to low-income and minority communities. We know that broadband Internet helps close the gap between the rich and the poor. Broadband access in the home can actually transform the way a family lives.
Often, minority communities are left out of public policy discussions about new technologies because consumers are not sufficiently informed and do not follow the mundane public policy issues that impact the cost and availability of these technologies. The Alliance’s goal is to act as a bridge between policymakers and those who may not always follow technology issues, and help the public to understand how technology policy affects them.
Our youth need Internet access to learn. This access puts the same knowledge at the fingertips of all children, whether they live in the inner city, the suburbs or rural areas.
Our healthcare system needs Internet access to gain medical information and even diagnosis and treatment. Our workers need Internet access to remain flexible and productive. Our entrepreneurs need Internet access to start and expand the small businesses upon which this country depends. This technology actually empowers our communities by giving them more opportunities.
As we have said here before, broadband access can empower minority communities across the digital divide.
With the passage of this legislation in Congress, we continue to put the pieces into place that will ensure that those who have finally been able to access broadband Internet are not the first ones to fall on the wayside.
