Left Of Ohio: Space Introduces "Connect the Nation Act"

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Space Introduces "Connect the Nation Act"

Yesterday at the Annual Ohio Telecom Association Convention Rep. Zack Space announced the "Connect the Nation Act" (H.R. 3627) which aims to help spread broadband internet. The act, which Space introduced on September 20th, is based on the successful "Connect Kentucky" program.

“Innumerable American families and businesses are being left stranded on the side of the information superhighway. If industries and companies are to have the ability to compete in the modern economy online, they must first have the access necessary to get there.

“The Commonwealth of Kentucky has had some amazing success in creating the conditions necessary to achieve a nearly 100% broadband coverage level. This legislation will allow other states – including Ohio – to replicate their successes."

-- Rep. Zack Space

According to Space's office, the bill would create a public-private partnership to:

Benchmark current access.
Map broadband resources.
Build demand through grassroots, community outreach and education efforts.

4 comments:

Brian said...: Government has no business doing this and should stay out. Between dial-up, broadband, DSL, and satellite there are enough options for everyone. There is no need for the NANNIE to get involved. Space is a hack and panderer.; 10/02/2007 5:46 PM
David said...: This is one issue that I absolutely won't give up on. As the rest of the country takes fast Internet for granted it gets harder and harder for rural area to compete, students will move away after college and businesses will go elsewhere.

Broadband and DSL lines are what Space is trying to bring to these areas. As for Satellite, have you ever really looked into it? The cost is higher even though the speed is much slower and the transmission delay makes things like VOIP impossible.; 10/03/2007 7:41 PM
Randy Barnett said...: I've come to realize recently that there are some people who are not connected even though broadband is readily available to them.

I previously equated Broadband-ing of America to the electrification of America, good for all. Now that I look at those who are not and probably never will connect, I wonder if this should be a priority.

The cost is probably small relative to other items, and I wouldn't get terribly upset, but I would sure like to see this put into the correct priority level.; 10/04/2007 11:59 AM
David said...: One of the main things this legislation seems to focus on is creating maps of where broadband service already is available. There's a lot of people out there that already can get some form of broadband internet, they just don't know it. Right now communications companies usually tend to fight such programs because they consider their coverage areas to be trade secrets (I've seen this firsthand).

It also seems a big part of this bill involves using grassroots and educational efforts to build demand, not just wiring areas blindly in the hopes that people will subscribe.; 10/05/2007 1:39 PM