[1st-mile-nm] CWA Letter: Broadband Mapping Advocacy

[Richard Lowenberg]

Telecom. infrastructure mapping is one part of a decision-support process to
bring true broadband to all; to address bandwidth and pricing; to consider
public-private partnerships; and to promote the pplications that will support
lives and livelihoods.   A few states have taken on this challenge.   Here's
the text of a letter from the CWA, in support of a national initiative.   There
are growing calls to do undertake a broadband mapping initiative in NM, from the
public sector and some telcos, as well.
rl
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Broadband Mapping ? Letter from the CWA (Communications Workers of America)

July 11, 2008

The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, Chairman
Senate Commerce Committee
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable John D. Dingell, Chairman,
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Ted Stevens, Vice Chairman
Senate Commerce Committee
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Joe Barton, Ranking Member
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Inouye, Vice Chairman Stevens, Chairman Dingell and Ranking Member
Barton:

The undersigned organizations write to express our strong support for
Congressional action to promote greater availability and adoption of broadband
high-speed Internet services.

The leading bills pending before Congress (S. 1492, the Broadband Data
Improvement Act and H.R. 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act of 2007)
would improve information-gathering about current broadband deployment and
assist in targeting resources to areas in need of such services. A recent FCC
order requires more focused broadband data collection from broadband providers
but does not address other important broadband mapping elements contained in
the pending legislation.

We believe Congress should adopt legislation this year that provides federal
government support for state initiatives using public-private partnerships to
identify gaps in broadband coverage and to develop both the supply of and
demand for broadband in those areas. The ability to accelerate deployment and
adoption by bringing together government, broadband providers, business, labor,
farm organizations, librarians, educators, and consumer groups in public-private
partnerships is greater than the ability of these diverse players standing
alone.

Adopting a national policy to stimulate subscription where it is already
available, and deployment where it is not, could have dramatic and far-reaching
economic impacts. For example, a Connected Nation study released February 2008
estimated the total annual economic impact of accelerating broadband across the
nation to be more than $134 billion. In addition to the $134 billion total
benefit, the study found that increasing broadband adoption by another seven
percent could result in:

? $92 billion through an additional 2.4 million jobs per year created or
retained;
? $662 million saved per year in reduced healthcare costs;
? $6.4 billion per year in mileage savings from unnecessary driving;
? $18 million in carbon credits associated with 3.2 billion fewer pounds of
CO2
emissions per year in the United States; and
? $35.2 billion in value from 3.8 billion more hours saved per year from
accessing broadband at home.

We cannot afford to let another year go by without adopting policies that will
stimulate the economy in such ways, while expanding use of the networks that
are already deployed and providing broadband in previously underserved areas.
That is why we urge you to work in a bipartisan, bicameral way to enact federal
legislation this year.

Thank you for your timely consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,

AT&T
Alliance for Public Technology
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Library Association
Cablevision
Charter Communications
The Children?s Partnership
Comcast
Communications Workers of America
Connected Nation
Cox Communications
EDUCAUSE
Embarq
Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance
Information Technology Industry Council
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Internet Innovation Alliance
NIC, Inc.
National Cable and Telecommunications Association
National Farmers Union
The National Grange
National Rural Health Association
Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications
Companies
Qwest
Time Warner Cable
U.S. Cattlemen?s Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
United States Telecom Association
Verizon
Western Telecommunications Association
Windstream


cc: The Honorable Harry Reid
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
The Honorable Richard J. Durbin
The Honorable Jon Kyl
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer
The Honorable John A. Boehner
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
The Honorable Cliff Stearns


-- 
Richard Lowenberg
1st-Mile Institute
P.O. Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110;   505-603-5200 cell
rl at 1st-mile.com  www.1st-mile.com


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