Broadband

Broadband Myths: Does Municipal Broadband Scale Well to Fit U.S. Broadband Needs?
No, local governments generally are not well-suited to providing broadband service. Economic theory suggests city-run broadband would not serve the country well, and previous real-world attempts bear that out with a mixed track record marked by several failures.
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For a menu of actionable ideas for policymakers related to telecommunications, see ITIF’s “Tech Policy To-Do List.”

Broadband
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June 24, 2021
Broadband Myths: Does Municipal Broadband Scale Well to Fit U.S. Broadband Needs?
No, local governments generally are not well-suited to providing broadband service. Economic theory suggests city-run broadband would not serve the country well, and previous real-world attempts bear that out with a mixed track record marked by several failures.
May 12, 2021
Refining the Biden Broadband Proposal
Momentum for an infrastructure package presents a tremendous opportunity to close the digital divide. Policymakers should avoid a political stalemate by eschewing utility-style broadband overbuilding and instead focus on pragmatic expansion of cost-effective, competitive networks.
May 12, 2021
Broadband Myth Series: Do We Need Symmetrical Upload and Download Speeds?
Assertions that symmetrical broadband is a national imperative are not well grounded in application demand or actual use of networks. Requiring symmetry in an infrastructure support program would drive up costs, reduce flexibility, and likely result in subsidies for redundant infrastructure in already served areas.
April 29, 2021
Biden’s Broadband Boondoggle
In President Biden’s joint address to Congress, he highlighted his promise to improve America’s broadband. Under the American Jobs Plan, all Americans will have access to high-speed internet, including the 35% of rural American’s that still don’t have it.
April 29, 2021
Comments to FCC Regarding 5G Open Radio Access Networks
ITIF filed comments supporting efforts to accelerate open wireless equipment, but cautioned against too prescriptive an approach or assuming how open radio architectures will evolve.
April 12, 2021
Fact of the Week: When the Most Productive Firms in Estonia Have More Access to Broadband Internet Service, Their Productivity Growth Increases Five Times More Than Average
These results point to continued productivity gains from ICT investment, but divergent productivity growth between the most productive firms and those with average levels of productivity.
April 1, 2021
How to Bridge the Rural Broadband Gap Once and For All
ITIF hosted a discussion with leading experts on how to resolve these questions and bridge the rural broadband gap once and for all.
March 22, 2021
How to Bridge the Rural Broadband Gap Once and For All
Nearly one in five rural Americans still lack access to broadband Internet service. Federal subsidies could bridge that gap if they are carefully targeted through a reverse-auction program that leverages economies of scale by encouraging large providers to participate.
February 16, 2021
Comments to FCC Regarding an Emergency Expansion of E-Rate Funding
ITIF filed comments supporting an expansion of the E-Rate program to help address the homework gap during the pandemic.
February 8, 2021
Broadband Myths: Are High Broadband Prices Holding Back Adoption?
Broadband affordability is a problem for some Americans, but not the “crisis” advocates claim. U.S. broadband prices are comparable with those charged abroad and by municipal networks. To ensure affordability for everyone, we need a better subsidy program, not changes to industry structure.

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