The Federal Communications Commission came to Pittsburgh and listened as local leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and concerned citizens took turns building a case for a more affordable, commercially viable and open Internet.
The 5-member federal agency, which regulates the national media, has embarked on an unprecendented tour of American cities as it develops a national strategy on "Broadband and the Digital Future." This week was Pittsburgh's turn.
“I’m determined that graduates have jobs that allow them to stay in Pittsburgh after graduation,” said Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, an organizer of the event who has help to push the debate out of D.C. and into the public eye. “An open Internet allows entrepreneurs to create products and services that enables them to compete in a global economy. High speed service needs to be available to everyone.”
Local Internet industry leaders and entrepreneurs weighed in during the nearly five hour hearing at McConomy Auditorium at Carnegie Mellon. Among the participants were Google, Intel and local technologies SimOps, Deep Local and Conviva.
“It’s gratifying to see CMU participate, having made Pittsburgh a hotbed of technological innovation,” said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.
Leaders voiced concerns regarding the digitial divide, providing equal access for low income rural and urban homes, and preserving the freedom and unique voices that have found their way to the Internet. Others raised the issues of censorship, piracy laws, government regulation and the plight of smaller cable companies like Pittsburgh-based American Cable Association.
While the U.S. is the birthplace of the Internet, America has fallen behind other countries in per capita broadband use, from fourth in the world to 15th today, and is lagging on policy issues, many noted.
“Broadband is like healthcare, it’s great if you can get to it,” said Dr. Rahul Tongia of Carnegie Mellon, a leading voice in helping countries like Africa to digitally connect. “Maybe we need to think of a whole new model of how we view the digital divide.”
Writer: Debra Smit
Source: FCC, Carnegie Mellon University