This afternoon, Arts+Labs filed reply comments in the FCC's ongoing inquiry on creating a "National Broadband Plan for Our Future." As the following excerpt indicates, Arts+Labs reiterated in its reply comments that the broadband strategy should be "a matter of practical priorities:"
Importantly, we also must remember that the first goal of our broadband strategy should be to connect every American to broadband service. Other attributes of connectivity are attractive and important, but we believe premature until we first deal with the more important job of inclusivity.
As Google observed in putting connectivity ahead of ultra-high speeds in comments filed on June 8: "Our first priority should be to get all Americans online, enjoying always-on broadband capabilities."
Similarly, Internet Innovation Alliance co-chair Larry Irving remarked just a week ago when discussing the benefits of connectivity: "But none of this is possible without adoption; you have to log on to reap - and even to recognize - the benefits."
In sum, we urge the Commission to design a national strategy that is grounded in the practical, to listen to what consumers want, and to drive broadband adoption by focusing on meeting the needs of real consumers in the real world. Esoteric arguments about Internet culture, management, and international rankings may seem to matter in Washington, D.C., but what users in Peoria and Scranton really care about is safe access to affordable broadband
service, and the quality content, information and services that creators make available.
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