Recently in the Telecommunications Category

Yesterday, WIPP submitted comments to the FCC on the issue of broadband, and why it is important to move forward with full deployment of broadband. The reclassification of broadband Internet service as "information service" will ultimately hinder small business access, investment, and the adoption of broadband. Full deployment of broadband is critical to the success of small businesses, many of whom rely on access to the latest technologies for their success. 
 
In our comments, we urged the FCC to consider the following:
 
·       Continue to classify broadband Internet services as an "information service"

·       Encourage small business participation, especially  women business owners, during FCC deliberations

·       Urge the Commission to refrain from actions that would impede small business growth

 
To read the full letter, please click here.
 
Broadband technology is a vital tool for economic success. It creates jobs by making businesses more competitive and efficient. WIPP urges the Commission to move forward with full deployment.

Today, WIPP and several of its partner organizations addressed its concerns directly to President Obama relative to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan. The Plan is critical for small business growth and America's overall growth and competitiveness. We are tremendously excited about its vision and scope, but have some reservations.
 
The first concerns the FCC's approach to now consider classifying broadband as a Telecommunications Service under Title II of the 1934 Telecommunications Act. At this point in time, we need to move forward with full deployment of broadband and encourage innovation and private sector investment. A heavy regulatory environment will not be conducive to moving the initiative forward, and certainly the legal and political battles will cause undue and unnecessary delays and frustrations. 
 
A second area of concern is the need for the small business voice in the process at the FCC. We believe the FCC would benefit by including small businesses, especially women-owned small businesses, into its stakeholder discussions, since women-owned firms are the fastest growing sector of the US economy.

We sincerely hope that the President will recognize our concerns. It is so important to move this initiative forward. 

I just read a recap of comments made by Federal Communications Commission member Meredith Baker in a keynote speech at the Pike and Fischer Broadband Policy Summit. She raised some interesting points and confirmed some hesitations that are prevalent in the small business community.  

Certainly a major point is that we need to be careful that we don't over-burden broadband as a more-regulated telecommunications service. We agree that there should always be a degree of oversight, however we can not lose sight of the fact that now, more than ever, we need to encourage private sector investment and innovation. Small business owners are the engine of this economy - and any additional burdens will discourage their investment.   So let's be careful on how we classify broadband.  

Equally important is that this struggle over oversight - how much, in what way, etc., is detracting from the goal of the National Broadband Plan. Each day, we lose forward movement because our focus is in the weeds rather than our ultimate goal. It is a sad day for all Americans when we take a step backward.

I urge the Chairman to keep the momentum for the Plan moving forward. Sure we'll have issues we need to deal with, and we will along the way, but let's not let it distract us from our primary goal.

Today AT&T announced new lower-priced wireless data plans. For quite some time now WIPP has suggested that tiered pricing and solutions are a way to make the internet more affordable, accessible, and easier to manage.   Happily, this announcement answers our requests. With tiered pricing, customers can pick a data plan that meets their needs and we will all enjoy a faster and more affordable network.  

Small businesses use their smart phones extensively for business and to keep in contact with their employees, clients, and families - and they want to be assured of reliable networks. With this announcement, they can now pick a new data plan that meets their needs and be assured of a well managed network. We've know for some time that there is no such thing as "one size fits all" - not with the internet - it just doesn't work. Choice, access and affordability is what we need and what we've repeatedly asked for, and now we have it. Everyone will have the opportunity to select the type of service that they need. 

Bravo, AT&T!   

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.