[LINK] US Study - Explaining International Broadband Leadership

[George Bray]

Interesting parallels for the AU situation - George



ITIF - Explaining International Broadband Leadership
http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=142

It is hard to follow broadband telecommunications policy without hearing
almost weekly that the United States ranks 15th out of 30 Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations in broadband adoption.
But it is much less apparent why the United States is behind. Indeed,
relatively little work has been done to understand why some nations are
ahead, and why some, like the United States, are lagging. By examining OECD
nations through statistical analysis and in-depth case studies of nine
nations, including the United States, this report attempts to do just that.

In identifying factors that have spurred broadband performance in other
nations, we present key findings that government and the technology industry
must recognize if we are to find the right course for the United States. And
we propose key policy recommendations that will drive greater broadband
performance.

To encourage the development of broadband infrastructure (supply) in the
United States, we recommend that U.S. policymakers take the following steps:

   1. Enact more favorable tax policies to encourage investment in broadband
networks, such as accelerated depreciation and exempting broadband services
from federal, state, and local taxation.

  * 2. Continue to make more spectrum, including "white spaces," available
for next-generation wireless data networks.
*
   3. Expand the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service
Broadband Program and target the program to places that currently do not
have non-satellite broadband available.

   4. Reform the federal Universal Service Fund program to extend support
for rural broadband to all carriers, and consider providing the funding
through a reverse auction mechanism.

   5. Fund a national program to co-fund state-level broadband support
programs, such as Connect Kentucky or North Carolina e-NC Authority.

   6. Promote the widespread use of a national, user-generated,
Internet-based broadband mapping system that would track location, speed,
and price of broadband.

   7. State and local governments should take action to make it easier for
providers to deploy broadband services, including making it easier to access
rights-of-way.

To encourage the growth of consumer demand for broadband, we recommend that
U.S. policymakers take these steps:

   8. Support initiatives around the nation to encourage broadband usage and
digital literacy.

   9. Fund a revitalized Technology Opportunities Program, with a particular
focus on the development of nationally scalable Web-based projects that
address particular social needs, including law enforcement, health care,
education, and access for persons with disabilities.

   10. Exempt broadband Internet access from federal, state, and local
taxes.

   11. Support new applications, including putting more public content
online, improving e-government, and supporting telework, telemedicine, and
online learning programs.








OECD Broadband Portal
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http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,3343,en_2649_33703_38690102_1_1_1_1,00.html
>


-- 
George Bray, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.