TIA Gives Congress Ideas for Broadband Deployment

Talk of a national broadband policy is gearing up as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office. Obama, arguably the most tech-savvy presidential candidate in history, has made no secret of his intent to revolutionize health care with electronic medical records, create a CTO cabinet position and work toward ubiquitous broadband access.

To that end, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) on Thursday asked federal lawmakers to consider specific broadband deployment and adoption incentives in the economic stimulus bill the House and Senate will debate during the 111th Congress.

TIA proposes “targeted incentives” to stimulate investment across wireless and fixed broadband platforms. The idea stems from a Communications Workers of America (CWA) plan that would create 97,500 direct jobs and 2.5 million jobs throughout the country with every $5 billion investment, according to CWA estimates. TIA builds on that by suggesting the inclusion of new tax incentive tiers that apply to fixed and wireless broadband, satellite broadband and broadband core and backbone transport.

The association supports the CWA’s proposal for a direct grant program for rural broadband deployments. TIA officials also urged lawmakers to consider a $25 billion grant program for deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved areas. Further, the organization calls for vouchers for low-income Americans so they can buy laptops, mobile handsets and other devices; a tax credit for SMBs to buy and upgrade their computers, software and more; and allowing consumers eligible for Lifeline and Link-Up to use discounts for broadband services and devices as well as telephony.

“Broadband networks directly impact the productivity of our industries and our economy, and pivotally affect public safety, education, health care, and countless other functions in Americans’ daily lives,” wrote TIA President Grant Seiffert in the Dec. 11 letter to Congress. “Broadband incentives are a necessary component of a 21st century stimulus package.”

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