FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski responded to a new broadband adoption study by saying lack of broadband access creates an “opportunity divide.”

Genachowski was referring to a new report from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which found that while broadband adoption has surged over the past decade, a digital divide remains amongst minority and rural populations.

“The digital divide is an opportunity divide — it you can’t get online, you can’t compete in the digital economy,” Genachowski said. “The NTIA’s new report provides an in-depth look at the persistent gaps between the digital haves and the digital have-nots. Closing these gaps is one of the top priorities of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.”

Here at Broadband for America, we agree that achieving universal broadband adoption in every American home and business is a worthwhile goal. Those with high-speed Internet have better access to opportunities in the economy, improving their education, finding better and more affordable healthcare and easier access to public safety.

This is why it is also critical to maintain the current successful balance of public and private partnerships.

While the broadband stimulus and the FCC’s National Broadband Plan will play important roles in increasing broadband access and adoption, it is private investment that has created the true foundation and future potential for broadband’s growth.

With our economy still struggling to bounce back from continuing challenges, the broadband industry has provided a bright spot of both current economic growth and potential for even greater gains. Imposing unnecessary regulations would only threaten that growth and turn back a decade of progress. Keeping innovation alive is the best way to close the digital divide and to ensure that all Americans have access to the same opportunities that broadband provides.