In a filing to the Federal Communications Commission released late on Monday, AT&T; set a target for 100 percent broadband availability in the United States by 2014.
Included in the plan are some points that caught my eye, including a recognition that work needs to be done on the demand side.
of those that do have access, nearly half of them do not purchase it for a range of reasons, including lack of necessary Internet-enabled devices, affordability issues and relevancy. While setting a goal of achieving universal access should be part of a comprehensive national broadband strategy, an inclusive approach must emphasize the critical importance of increasing broadband adoption.
To address the demand side, the plan includes a call for providing training and public access to broadband services; economic assistance for the acquisition of broadband services and equipment; and incentives for the development of technology and content aimed at specific users’ needs.
More details are expected to be released on AT&T;’s Public Policy website.
Building Broadband, is the topic of a special panel at next week’s The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit.
Have you registered yet?