Regulations Would Prevent Us From Failing

For several years now, as President and CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), I have written frequently on the importance of collaboration and have emphasized that the best solutions to the pressing problems we experience will come from collaborate efforts of large and small business, non-profits and government working together.     

This country has a huge opportunity before it, and a huge void to fill with the implementation of a national broadband plan - its successful deployment will affect all Americans. It will level the playing field for minority and poor communities; transform our communications; drive exciting new technology and innovations; improve the way education and health care is delivered thereby increasing the quality, delivery and integrity of both systems; it will change existing business models; and it will forge important new global endeavors and enterprises. In short, with a successful deployment, the United States will maintain its position as a world leader, and set the standard and benchmark for the rest of the world to aspire to.  

How ridiculous that we are unable to resolve the process and guidelines for ensuring the integrity of the program.    All parties have a vested interest in its success.  Whether it is consumers, industry sectors, government agencies, small or large businesses - we need deployment to succeed. America cannot fail, the stakes are way too high.   I have to wonder what the real issue is - what is the agenda that is causing the different parties to put the entire program at risk?  What ideological or business priorities could possibly justify putting roadblock after roadblock in its path?   

Let's be realistic here. An onerous regulatory environment will impede implementation, growth, expansion and innovation. It will not deliver fair and acceptable service to everyone, it will not allow providers to provide acceptable service to their customers, it will not allow our faltering education and health care systems to rectify and turn themselves around and create new and successful models. I have never seen regulatory environments accomplish those types of goals. There is, however, a standard of excellence and quality and responsibility that each of the industry leaders and government entities must comply with as we develop and expand technology. We must insist upon a commitment to responsible action, a common collaborative goal and reasonable oversight.