Fantastic Op Ed By Michael Copps in Today’s Washington Post
Fantastic Op Ed By Michael Copps in Today’s Washington Post
Fantastic Op Ed By Michael Copps in Today’s Washington Post

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    FCC Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps has an excellent Op Ed in today's (11/8) Washington Post. America's Internet Disconnect.

    In it, Copps touches on all the aspects of our failed broadband policy. He sums up the cost of our continued broadband failings nicely:

    “The stakes for our economy could not be higher. Our broadband failure places a ceiling over the productivity of far too much of the country. Should we expect small-town businesses to enter the digital economy, and students to enter the digital classroom, via a dial-up connection? The Internet can bring life-changing opportunities to those who don't live in large cities, but only if it is available and affordable.”

    Copps is also careful to say that there is no “magic bullet” to solve these problems. But he does have a number of immediate suggestions:

    1) Start doing real reporting rather than issuing reports designed to show how wonderful everything is;

    2) More unlicensed and licensed spectrum for broadband;

    3) Authorize smart radios to increase efficiency;

    4) More public/private ventures (which I see as a code word for municipal broadband).