December 10th, 2008
Obama's Broadband plan: offering and waiting for details
In the video below, Sumi Das and I talk about President-elect Obama’s plan to invest in broadband adoption as part of his larger invest-in-infrastructure economic recovery plan. Personally, I’m a fan of this investment because I think it’s an investment in the future of the U.S. But, like many of you, I’m also eager to hear more detailed plans on how the Obama administration plans to spark broadband deployment and adoption. I’m trying to be realistic about the taxpayer impact. And I’m certainly concerned about censorship and privacy, as well.
There was some good reading in the talkbacks section of my last entry, with many of you raising red flags on a number of topics. There was also some good reading on the Web about it. In particular, I read with interest what Robb Henshaw wrote about wireless technology. I’ve known Rob for a while now and have talked to him about the work they’re doing over at Proxim Wireless and I think that any innovative technology that offers a potential cost-savings should at least be given strong consideration. Robb, whose post appeared in the Digital Town Hall section at InternetforEveryone.org, writes:
Advances in wireless technology have brought us to a place where wireless technologies can provide greater performance than existing wired infrastructure at nearly one tenth of the cost… Wireless technology, combined with policies that clear the way for easy access to street lights, lamp poles and public buildings for mounting wireless radios, is absolutely necessary for the successful execution of not only delivering affordable broadband access, but doing so in the most cost-effective way possible. This becomes even more important in this economic landscape, to ensure that any money earmarked for a “broadband bailout” is used in the most fiscally responsible way possible.
What’s encouraging is that this investment isn’t just in the hands of government. People and groups are chiming in with their two cents. The coalition of companies and groups that has called on the Obama administration to establish a national Broadband strategy is sure to weigh in with its best approach. And groups like Free Press, which is behind InternetforEveryone.org, are already on the president-elect’s radar.
Sam Diaz is a senior editor at ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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