The Broadband Future in Illinois
As the new Field Director for Illinois, one of FreedomWorks initiatives I’m working on is to move telecommunications regulation into this century. We need to remove regulations that prevent innovation in both technology (hardware investment) and service enhancements (integration of communication and digital services). Frankly, deregulation of telecom may be one of the most important issues of all when it comes to winning the “information” battle of ideas.
For example, many of the links to audio and video that I’m always sending out to activists are often too cumbersome for those who only have a 56K internet connection. While somewhat indirect, this has a huge impact on the dissemination of information because those without broadband access are still at the mercy of text and/or “old media” (CNN, et. al.).
Though the defenders of freedom have made huge inroads in countering the slant of the media through blogs (web logs) and talk radio, the fact is that the real future of communication is in the advanced use of e-mail and internet to rapidly deploy and discuss video, audio, and text.
It is for this reason that FreedomWorks questions the entire regulatory scheme of the telecommunications industry. With satellite, cable, wireless, broadband, wi-fi, VoIP (voice over internet protocol) providing competition for the traditional “wireline” phone companies (SBC, Verizon, BellSouth), one wonders whether even the “recent” 1996 Telecom act is still a viable piece of legislation.
When Trucking, Airlines, and Freight were deregulated, prices dropped and volume soared. Why should telecom be different? The fact is that we heard much doom and gloom about how “monopolies” would drop prices, drive out competition, and then dramatically increase prices. They were wrong then, and I believe they are wrong now.
I’ve posted two links below for those who might want to read up on the issue further.
This link questions the “predatory pricing” theories.
I leave you with the reminder that broadband uptake and telecommunication reform are also “free speech” issues, particularly since campaign finance law now seriously erodes the First Amendment in the final weeks of U.S. elections. The always-present Big Government threat to free speech makes it very important to get technological advances like broadband internet into the homes of the grassroots activist and the average citizen. At the heart of this debate is the question: who will control this technology in the future, government or free citizens?
With FreedomWorks providing networks of activists with information & research, and the new technologies providing a more rapid flow of information, we can advance freedom faster. That’s why FreedomWorks is involved in this debate and that’s what we’re fighting for, and I look forward to working with you.
