Well, on February 8th the FCC took a step and voted to overhaul the Universal Service Fund so that those funds can be directed at extending broadband to underserved areas. I have already seen a lot of commentary about this topic, some in favor of these changes and others that see the change as negative.  But many of them are not looking at this step as the game changer that it will be.

Every single day I am reminded of examples of how people are being left behind in the digital age.  And while people bicker over issues in DC, the gap continues to widen for the rest of the population outside of the Beltway. It’s a powerful statement for the FCC to be willing to make the changes necessary to serve the people who don’t have a voice. The opportunities for job creation due to broadband deployment will be able to increase in multiple areas of the country. The amount of jobs and opportunities that will result from a broadband build out will be amazing:  With extension into rural  areas long distance training for the digitally literate job seekers will help them land their dream job  or even create new business from the comfort  of their home.

We need to promote the real value of this execution, and true winners will be the underserved.  David Sutphen did a better job than I could ever do explaining the history of the regulations and why its important for them to be changed in his Op-ed on the hill.com. I’m just excited to see such fast movement on the issue of putting the power of broadband into everyone’s hands.

I’ve said for some time now that there are ideas in the minds of people, in urban and rural areas, that need access to the constant stream of information and resources that an Internet connection provides.  With the FCC pushing the initiative past idea and into action, we will soon see those untapped ideas become our new reality.

http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3847366/Lawmakers+Float+Bill+to+Boost+Rural+Broadband.htm