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Broadband Policy Group

The Broadband Policy (formerly Pricing) Working Group has shown an increased interest in helping shape federal/national broadband public policy. To this end, the BPG has restructured its mission to reflect this evolution in strategy.

The BPG recently published, "Broadband America - An Unrealized Vision." This white paper articulates a higher education vision for a national broadband strategy, including recommended goals and action items federal policymakers should consider when crafting future telecommunications regulatory policy.

Contacts

To receive updates on BPG activities and to participate in discussion on national broadband policy initiatives, please send an e-mail request to Garret Sern at gsern@educause.edu to be added to the BPG listserv.

BPG Resources

Broadband in the Courts

The BPG (on behalf of EDUCAUSE) filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief before the Supreme Court in supporting the right of municipalities to provide telecommunication services. At issue is whether municipalities fall under the definition of "any entity" under section 253 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which prohibits state and local regulations from restricting entities from providing telecommunications services. Many higher education institutions and their surrounding communities, particularly those located in remote areas, are partnering to provide affordable telecommunications services where commercial carriers refuse to deploy. While the Supreme Court ruled against the municipalities based on constitutional grounds, it recognized that value local fiber networks can have to rural and underserved communities.

White Papers

The BPG has produced several papers designed to articulate a higher education vision for the future development of a national broadband network and the federal policies for making this goal a reality.
A Vision for the Network, Tim Lance, 2003

Archive

Net@EDU Broadband Pricing Working Group Archive
 
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