If we hope to compete globally and bring more jobs and prosperity to our citizens, we must get our people connected, digitally literate and online. In a nutshell, the benefits to our society are so great that broadband must be a priority of national policy. A good broadband plan will plant that flag.

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The National Broadband Plan, however, should be more than a codification of national commitment. The FCC should set out specific initiatives that will accelerate the country's efforts.

First, the FCC should put a spotlight on policies that increase adoption. According to recent FCC estimates, one-third of adults in the U.S. do not subscribe to broadband.

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Additionally, the FCC must tackle the challenges of deploying broadband in areas that have proven uneconomical to serve. Five percent of the country currently has no broadband.

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A robust broadband ecosystem includes wireless infrastructure to complement wired broadband. Consumers are increasingly demanding wireless broadband service to realize the promise of having information access anytime and anywhere.

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Finally, the FCC must embrace the inescapable conclusion that private investment will continue to bear the heaviest load in meeting our national objectives.

To read the full Op-ed, click here.

Broadband for America (BfA) is a growing coalition of over 200 members ranging from independent consumer advocacy groups, to content and application providers, to the companies which build and maintain the Internet. The complete BfA membership list is available at: http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/about/members  

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