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Federal Policy Program
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EDUCAUSE Supports Proposed Community Broadband Act of 2005
Washington, D.C. EDUCAUSE has joined a broad coalition of more than 40 education and trade associations, public interest groups, local government organizations, tribal governments, and private companies in support of the Community Broadband Act of 2005. Introduced on June 23 by U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg (D–N.J.) and John McCain (R–Ariz.), this bill (S.1294) would enable and protect the ability of local governments to provide high-speed Internet services to their communities and will be especially critical for those areas of the country where for-profit utilities and private companies have not seen sufficient market opportunities to deploy these services. Community broadband networks can significantly enhance America's teaching and learning capabilities by making high-speed Internet connections affordable for rural and inner-city residents, as well as for K–12 schools. Moreover, such local networks can provide underserved higher education institutions the connections they need to engage in research and deliver distance learning opportunities. According to EDUCAUSE Vice President Mark Luker, "The issue this bill addresses is not whether local governments are the best providers of broadband. In some cases they might be, while in others the private sector might be the best option. Rather, the issue is that no local government should be barred by arbitrary state laws from considering the option of providing broadband to its residents.” The Lautenberg-McCain bill explicitly bars discrimination and thereby promotes healthy competition for broadband services among multiple providers. This legislation will help local communities serve the educational and economic needs of their citizens. For a copy of the proposed legislation, Senator McCain's floor statement on the need for the Community Broadband Act, a related press release, and the coalition's letter of support, see www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EPO0523.pdf [PDF 86 KB]. EDUCAUSE support for this legislation is part of a broader higher education campaign urging Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to consider expanded national Internet access as part of their pending review of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 . For more about this initiative, see www.BroadbandForHigherEducation.org. About EDUCAUSE
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EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. The current membership comprises more than 2,200 colleges, universities, and educational organizations, including 250 corporations, with 17,000 active members. Learn more about EDUCAUSE at