We Need A National Broadband Standard

While there's lots of energy behind the development of a national broadband policy, how can we discuss strategies for making progress when we don't yet know where we're going and what goals we're setting out to achieve?

For this reason before setting policy we should first establish a national broadband standard.

What are the characteristics of broadband that every American deserves? What are the characteristics of those broadband networks that deserve government subsidies? How can we make sure that the broadband networks we support live up to their responsibilities to the public interest?

By first focusing on setting this standard we can then shape policies to achieve these goals. Without this standard and these goals, we won't be able to create policies that are effective in achieving any real progress.

So what should a national broadband standard look like?

The first principle we should all be able to easily agree on is the need for universality. Every last building in this country needs to be able to access broadband so that it can participate in the global digital economy.

With this in mind we can shape policies to focus on bringing broadband to the unserved and the best broadband to everyone.

As to other characteristics, this process of setting a standard becomes more challenging as we start running into some contentious issues, like net neutrality and whether some broadband technologies should be prioritized over others.

But just because these issues are contentious doesn't mean we can or should avoid trying to tackle them. I'm a believer that there is a greater truth to a lot of these issues that will provide clear answers to the question of what's going to be best for America.

Because that's really what this is about: what's best for the country. We can't allow what's best for private interests cloud our decisions about what's best for the country at large. Yet at the same time I'm very respectful of the fact that furthering private interests are a key part of making our country great.

Finding that middle ground that balances public and private interests is the perspective I always try to come from, and over the coming weeks I'm going to be continuing to explore this idea of crafting a national broadband standard that our national broadband strategy can then be built around.

If you have any thoughts for what should be added to the list of characteristics that should define America's national broadband standard then write up a comment below and we can get this conversation started!

The most important first part is universality, but what else should we include?