The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Liz Rose, Communications Director, 202-265-1490 x 32

Free Press Commends Boucher for Broadband Push

WASHINGTON

The public interest group Free Press commends Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) for his efforts to marshal public resources for improvements to broadband that will benefit consumers.

Today, Rep. Boucher sent a letter to the Federal Communications
Commission exhorting the FCC and the National Telecommunications
Information Agency to leverage policies and public investments to
produce a world-class broadband network. Rep. Boucher called for a
benchmark for next-generation networks, a key deliverable that was
absent from the FCC's broadband outline that was unveiled yesterday.

Ben Scott, policy director at Free Press, issued the following statement:

"We strongly support Chairman Boucher's call for next-generation
broadband networks. The FCC's task is to construct a blueprint for
21st-century infrastructure policy. We should set goals that will
establish the United States in the top ranks of the world's leading
broadband nations and bring those world-class networks to all
Americans. We should aim to achieve those goals through competition
policy at the FCC and targeted public investment from the Departments
of Commerce and Agriculture. We commend Chairman Boucher's efforts to
bring high-speed communications to all Americans."

Free Press was created to give people a voice in the crucial decisions that shape our media. We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what's actually happening in their communities.

(202) 265-1490