JTWestside
12-03-08, 09:53 AM
New Coalition Drawing Up Nationwide Broadband Access Strategy
By Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 3, 2008; D03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203164_pf.html
...Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen said the union supports a proposal by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) to increase definitions for broadband to 10 megabits per second for downloads by 2010. The current definition for broadband speed in the United States is 768 kilobits per second downstream, which is far below standards in many other nations.
Achieving that goal at prices acceptable to consumers, however, would be expensive for telecom and cable network operators. Some in the coalition could push for laws that would achieve lower prices and higher speeds through more wireless and telecom competitors, but that could cause further disagreement among members, Scott said.
Some have already suggested requesting funds from the federal economic stimulus plan for broadband deployment. Yesterday, an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Pelosi was in favor of that idea.
...
By Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 3, 2008; D03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203164_pf.html
...Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen said the union supports a proposal by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) to increase definitions for broadband to 10 megabits per second for downloads by 2010. The current definition for broadband speed in the United States is 768 kilobits per second downstream, which is far below standards in many other nations.
Achieving that goal at prices acceptable to consumers, however, would be expensive for telecom and cable network operators. Some in the coalition could push for laws that would achieve lower prices and higher speeds through more wireless and telecom competitors, but that could cause further disagreement among members, Scott said.
Some have already suggested requesting funds from the federal economic stimulus plan for broadband deployment. Yesterday, an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Pelosi was in favor of that idea.
...