Support Highspeed Internet Access for All!!
Speedmatters.org
Imagine an America with no digital divide, where every home has high speed internet access. The first thing that comes to mind is entertainment -- movies, live streaming webcasts and interactive games.
Yet the potential for high speed internet access goes far beyond entertainment. New telecommunications tools are emerging every day that make it easier to connect with one another using voice and video communications. For example, in public safety, high speed networks can quicken the response time of first responders, and in education, video conferencing enables teachers to expand their classroom beyond school walls.
The possibilities are endless. Currently, we have the technology to connect all individuals to high speed networks, nevertheless our country still faces a digital divide. The infrastructure required to connect all Americans is less reliable and inaccessible to many communities. But by building out our high speed networks to reach rural and urban areas alike, we can begin to address the digital divide that drives a wedge through our economy and our lives.
Currently there is a Bill in the NYS Assembly and the Senate called the Telecommunications Reform Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill# 3980/Senate Bill# S.5124) that addresses these concerns. What this bill would do is set out an extensive reform of the state’s telecommunications policy that will urge the development of universal broadband, increase competition in the cable television market and improve telephone service quality. By doing this we can ensure that broadband is available to all instead of just the affluent. We can improve the quality of our telephone services and reduce our cable rates.
As we move to create an open internet, we can address inequities that cause that digital divide, and increase our capacity for innovation and participation. The internet allows people to connect, create, and educate themselves in a way that no other resource can. As we work to close the digital divide, and connect more people to high speed internet access, we will move towards a more integrated community, accessible government and an open internet.
Contact your State Assembly Member and Senator and tell them to support NYS consumers. Tell them to support Assembly Bill 3980 and Senate Bill S5124. Also, take a moment to test your internet speed at www.speedmatters.org. It only takes a few minutes but will help to close the digital divide. What’s your speed?