Building a Coalition for Legislation to Promote Universal Access to Advanced Telecommunications Capability
April, 2005

Connecting Each to All in a Broadband World

Congress is considering legislation to rewrite the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Although there is wide recognition that the current legislative framework that governs our nation’s telecommunications policy is badly out of date, there is no consensus yet on what should replace it. APT supports these efforts to rewrite our telecommunications laws, and believes that Congress must establish policies that promote universal, affordable access to broadband technologies.

The importance of universal access

In the 21st century, universal access to advanced telecommunications technologies and services will be fundamental to effective communication, quality of life, and democratic participation. Universal, high speed communications networks can:

• Bring better and more affordable health care to all citizens
• Expand educational opportunities for lifelong learning
• Enable independent living for senior citizens and people with disabilities
• Create opportunities for jobs, economic advancement and financial independence
• Make government more responsive to all citizens
• Simplify accessibility to communications media
• Reduce inequities caused by geographic isolation of rural communities.

Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 set a national goal of universal access to advanced telecommunications capability. Although the telecommunications environment has significantly evolved since the passage of the 1996 Act, this critical goal has not yet been achieved. What once was a segmented market with limited choices is becoming one of overlapping market segments, multiple providers, and a host of possibilities. As technologies have converged, current policy distinctions based on technology, distance, and jurisdictional borders have become irrelevant, or actually may be impeding the broader deployment of advanced networks.

Thus, the new policy framework must ensure that two-way advanced telecommunication capability* is available to every residence, business, and community institution in the nation.

Principles to achieve universal access

APT’s Board has identified the following principles as the essential foundation of a national telecommunications framework that will promote universal access to advanced telecommunications capability:

1. Advanced technologies and services must be affordable and accessible for all communities and individuals.
2. Universal service funding must be adequate to ensure equitable access to advanced telecommunications capability for all Americans.
3. Advanced networks must be interoperable, and based on openness.
4. Advanced networks and services must incorporate universal design so that they are accessible for all users, including people with disabilities.
5. Advanced networks and services must meet basic requirements for public safety, social obligations, and consumer protections.
6. The regulatory framework must foster investment and innovation in advanced networks and services, must encourage the growth of good jobs in the industry and throughout the economy, and must be flexible to accommodate the challenges of evolving and improving technology.
7. In high-cost areas or areas in which competitive forces do not ensure the affordable deployment of advanced telecommunications capability, effective public incentives must be implemented, including public-private partnerships, support for demonstration and deployment initiatives, investment incentives, subsidies, programs of demand aggregation and community planning, and use of government contracting to stimulate demand and innovation.

Next steps

Groups and individuals who agree with these principles should join with APT in educating Congress and other policy makers on the need embody them in our nation’s new telecommunications policy framework.

How can consumer and public interest advocates help?

• Sign on to APT’s Principles for Universal Access to Advanced Telecommunications Capability. Visit the website to get the sign-on form
• Circulate the principles to like-minded colleagues and encourage their endorsement.
• Post information with a link to the principles, which are located at APT website, in your member communications and on your web site.
• Co-sponsor a brown bag lunch with APT to focus attention on the impact of these issues for your constituency.

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