Newsroom: Internet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. (June 12, 2007) – Today, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America voiced their support for S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which aims to improve the quality of federal broadband data collection. Better broadband data will properly focus efforts to bring broadband to underserved communities.

The bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to update its definition of broadband to reflect current standards for broadband, and enables better measurement of where broadband is available to consumers by directing the Census Bureau to assess residential narrowband v. broadband usage, and directing broadband providers to report data at the ZIP code + 4 level.

"Innovation, by definition will always challenge us to update our regulatory systems," said Chris Murray, senior counsel for Consumers Union. "Many in industry want to use the fast-paced nature of the communications marketplace as an excuse to have policymakers sit on their hands and do nothing. Instead, policymakers need to ensure that our laws are tracking today’s marketplace, not the marketplace of a decade ago. This bill is a critical step towards keeping our policies current."

"We are grateful to Chairman Inouye for his leadership on broadband Internet issues, and look forward to working with committee staff to move this legislation ahead."

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Contact: Chris Murray at (202) 238-9253 or email murrch@consumer.org.