The Universal Access Trend

It is now generally accepted that networking technologies, and especially the Internet, are redefining the economy as surely as telephony, highways and railways did. Beyond the rise of e-commerce, new internetworking firms, and Internet-based companies, the Internet has changed how all businesses and governments conduct their existing activities. And there is sizeable proof that we have only seen the beginning stage of broadband technology.

Many developed and developing countries have the objective of extending broadband Internet access. They are changing public policy and are proposing governmental programs that cultivate or expand broadband technologies for economic growth. Some programs are natural extensions of existing telecommunications “universal service” or “universal access” development initiatives. But more often they are now grouped with broader socio-economic development goals, as the technology is – now more than ever – seen as an underpinning for national growth and social development.

Why this push for universal access? To answer that question, one must look at the objectives of extending access to broadband services. No matter what the approach, government studies appear to share the same socio-economic beliefs and objectives:

• This new technology, broadband, generates exceptional opportunities for citizens, groups, education, medicine, communities, companies and governments.

• Because the new technology has no geographic borders, every locale – no matter how remote – it has the opportunity to become a creative technological hub both for the populace. It is a catalyst for economic growth. Rural, remote and disadvantaged areas and groups have the most to gain from harnessing this new technology – leading them to become an empowered and proactive community.

• Public policy moulds the environment in which the broadband revolution can flourish. Broadband policies are seen as an important part of overall governmental socio-economic policies.

• While the private sector has led in this new technology, many governments believe they have a pivotal role in providing an educational and training framework to ensure citizens are able to take full advantage of the new technology. Skills and an educated population are central to a country’s ability to succeed. The problem that is occurring is the private sector’s unwillingness to incorporate this government stance. Giving up the starring role or perhaps changing the script, as of yet, is not seen to be of interest or benefit to the private sector.

• Despite the debate on the existence and/or the pervasiveness of the “digital divide,” there is a universal belief that governments must undertake initiatives to bridge the gaps created by new technology. That belief alone forces governments to rapidly extend the benefits of broadband access to remote, rural, or otherwise disadvantaged locations.

The argument for public policies on broadband access is many and clearly supported through an assortment of governmental and educational studies. Where this topic becomes murky is when one discusses the various approaches to extend broadband access. Approaches could be government regulations within the private sector’s expansion of broadband services; targeted governmental policies to select groups that are deemed disadvantaged by lack of access; or governments could take a broader stance and become the caretaker of broadband networks and services.

No matter what the governmental approaches or strategies, there is a common belief in the benefits of broadband access and the role of government in fostering educations and training, assistance to disadvantaged locations and groups, etc. The community at large also supports this belief, and I would even say that some in the private sector do too. Unfortunately, finding common ground on this belief is not the problem.

What is the problem? It is getting government to take action or even support grassroots action to expand broadband access. Acknowledging the socio-economic benefits of broadband access and restating commonly held beliefs is not enough. There are various approaches and paths that governments can take to become active participants in expanding “universal access.”

Universal Access in the News

“Taking an aggressive stance on the issue of the digital divide, the Kentucky Housing Corporation, or KHC, has listed broadband Internet access among the inalienable rights of its low-income housing residents.”

“Public housing authorities in Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin have also pushed developers to wire for broadband by giving them preferential access to low-income housing tax credits.”

“One Economy is preparing to launch a two-year, nationwide campaign with city and state public housing authorities, encouraging them to enact policies that either mandate broadband access or, as in Nebraska, promote it through the Low Income Housing Tax Credits program. The organization estimates that 12 to 15 states will have passed these measures within a year.”

“… One Economy's policy agenda is a bill (PDF) in Congress, sponsored by John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), that would require state housing authorities to include broadband access among their criteria for choosing recipients of low-income housing tax credits.”

“In Chicago the housing authority is just now breaking ground on a "model" development that will include broadband connectivity through a fiber and wireless infrastructure. Furthermore, the agency's chief information officer, Walter Smith, said that bridging the gap in broadband access is one of the mayor's priorities.”