EI Special Consultant Scott J. Wallsten participates as panelist in FCC Hearing on Broadband Technology.

The FCC held a hearing on July 21, 2008 at Carnegie Mellon University on “Broadband And The Digital Future”. EI Special Consultant Scott J. Wallsten participated on a panel titled “The Broadband of Tomorrow.” At the hearing Dr. Wallsten discussed the state of broadband investment in the U.S. and how the U.S. compares to other OECD countries. He explained that despite conventional wisdom the data show rapid broadband adoption and improving performance. In terms of policy, Wallsten argued that proposed telecommunications regulations should be subject to cost-benefit tests, just as are proposed regulations in other industries. He also suggested that the U.S. Census Bureau collect household data on broadband as part of its annual Current Population Survey and that the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis collect data on business broadband use as part of its routine collection of industry productivity information. Finally, Dr. Wallsten proposed cataloging and evaluating the many federal and state programs intended to promote broadband already in place in order to learn what works and what does not before considering new programs.