Minimize Government Regulation, Taxation and Burdens to Achieve Universal Broadband

CES Tech-Enthusiasts Say: Poll

Attendees of the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas strongly agree minimal government regulation and taxation are key to reaching all Americans with broadband Internet, according to the results of an informal survey conducted at the conference by the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA).

Out of six potential answers related to how the government should ensure universal broadband availability and adoption, 31 percent of 259 survey respondents chose “Minimize regulation, taxation and government oversight of innovators, entrepreneurs and private companies” as the most important. This result points to a belief among the tech-savvy attendees of CES that a light regulatory touch could spur innovation, whereas heavy-handed regulation and bureaucratic red tape could stifle the investment and creativity that led to some of today’s greatest technology inventions, many of which were featured at the world-renowned convention.

Less than Half of African Americans and Hispanics Regularly Use the Internet

Yet Overwhelming Majority Agrees that Internet Access is Critical to Success in Education, Business, Community and Family Life

New Findings of Groundbreaking National Survey on Minority Internet Use from Cornell Belcher – Former DNC and Obama Presidential Campaign Pollster – To Be Discussed at Internet Innovation Alliance Broadband Symposium Today in Washington, D.C.

California State Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Núñez, Rey Ramsey, CEO of Nonprofit OneEconomy, among Speakers Addressing Opportunities and Advantages of Broadband Internet

WASHINGTON D.C. – December 10, 2009 – Only 42 percent of African Americans and Hispanics regularly use the Internet, yet they overwhelmingly agree that Internet access is critical to achieving success, according to new findings from a national survey of 900 minority adults conducted by Brilliant Corners Research, led by Pollster Cornell Belcher. The results from this survey will be revealed today in Washington, D.C., at the Internet Innovation Alliance’s (IIA) Symposium, “Universal Broadband:  Access for All Americans.”

The Honorable Fabian Núñez and Entrepreneur David Steward to Lead National Broadband Call to Action

- Núñez and Steward join Internet Innovation Alliance as Honorary Chairmen of the IIA Broadband Ambassador Program; will lead educational and advocacy campaign for broadband access and adoption for all Americans -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 9, 2009 - The Honorable Fabian Núñez, Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly, and David Steward, chairman and co-founder of World Wide Technology, Inc., the largest African-American-owned business in America, will lead the IIA Broadband Ambassador Program, the IIA announced today.  As Honorary Chairmen of the program, Núñez and Steward will seek to harness their legislative and business experience to highlight the critical importance and benefits of every American having access to broadband, particularly at a time when adoption and accessibility of wireless Internet is receiving increased focus.

Statement of Support from IIA for the National Cable & Telecom Association’s Adoption Plus Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 1, 2009 – The Internet Innovation Alliance, a broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and access for all Americans, today released the following statement in support of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) Adoption Plus (“A+”) program:

Internet Innovation Alliance Launches “IIA en Español” on Website

Internet Innovation Alliance Launches “IIA en Espanol” on Website

- Online tool is designed to serve as a resource on technology and broadband-related issues for Spanish language communities -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2009 - The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) today launched “IIA en Espanol,” a section of the website designed to serve as a resource on important broadband and technology-related information for Spanish language communities. The content includes key studies and facts about broadband, developments with IIA Members and Ambassadors from the Hispanic community and news related to the Internet industry, all available in Spanish at http://www.internetinnovation.org/Spanish.

Internet Innovation Alliance Names David Sutphen New Co-Chair

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 27, 2009 – The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) today named David Sutphen Co-Chair of the broadband-focused organization.  Sutphen has held significant leadership positions in Congress, the entertainment industry and trade associations.

Investment in Broadband Critical to Job Creation

-Policy that deters investment would lead to significant job loss; impact unlikely to be offset by gains in other industries -

WASHINGTON - October 21, 2009 - Updated research shows that a decline in capital investments by the broadband services industry could eliminate jobs, the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) announced today.  An updated report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and updated research conducted separately by former FCC Commissioner and economist Harold Furchtgott-Roth both illustrate the potential risks of changes in regulatory policy.

“In making policy decisions, it’s important to consider the possible risks, as well as the benefits,” said Co-Chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance Bruce Mehlman.  “At IIA, we’ve long-focused on private investment to advance broadband.  Just as we’ve analyzed the job-creating impact of pro-investment policies, we think it’s important to quantify the possible risks at a time when economic recovery is at the top of our national agenda, because if investment goes down, jobs are lost.”

Internet Innovation Alliance Commends FCC Staff Workshops for National Broadband Plan

Encourages Focus on Adoption, Importance of Private Investment and Planning for Future Innovations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 6, 2009 – The Internet Innovation Alliance, a broad-based coalition that has long supported a comprehensive national broadband strategy to achieve universal broadband availability and adoption, today released the following statement on its support for the Federal Communications Commission’s staff workshops for the development of a National Broadband Plan, the first of which begins today:

Internet Innovation Alliance Stresses Broadband Adoption in Comments to FCC

- Highlights the Importance of Private Investment, Touts Consumer Benefits of Broadband -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 21, 2009 - The Internet Innovation Alliance, a broad-based coalition that has long supported a comprehensive national broadband strategy to achieve universal broadband availability and adoption, today released the following statement on its feedback to statements filed with the FCC regarding a National Broadband Plan:

Consumers Receive More Than $30 Billion in Benefits Annually From Using Broadband at Home -New Study

- Broadband increasingly a necessity for U.S. households -
- U.S. Households turn to broadband Internet during recession -

WASHINGTON D.C. – July 14, 2009 – With $32 billion gains in 2008, consumers increasingly benefit from using broadband at home, according to a research study released today by Jonathan Orszag, a former Economic Policy Advisor on President Bill Clinton’s National Economic Council; Robert Willig, Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University and former chief economist in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division; and Mark Dutz, a Special Consultant with Compass Lexecon, an economic consulting firm. 

Read the study here - http://internetinnovation.org/files/special-reports/CONSUMER_BENEFITS_OF_BROADBAND.pdf.

Larry Irving to Step Down as Co-Chair of the Internet Innovation Alliance

WASHINGTON D.C. - July 13, 2009 - Larry Irving will step down as co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) in September, the IIA announced today. Irving will join Hewlett Packard, the world's leading technology company, as vice president of Global Government Affairs. At HP, he will be responsible for shaping public policy and building relationships worldwide with government officials, community leaders, non-governmental organizations and business partners.

Consumers Favor Internet over Cell Phone and Cable TV According to New Study from Pew Research

- Study to be discussed at Internet Innovation Alliance Broadband Symposium today in Washington, DC -
- Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia to deliver keynote address -
- NBA All-Star, Blogger and Technology Proponent Chris Bosh to Appear -

WASHINGTON D.C. - June 17, 2009 - Americans value broadband more than ever with home broadband adoption rates up 15 percent in 2009 and consumers favoring Internet over cell phone and cable TV, according to new research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  The 29-page study will be unveiled today in Washington, DC at the Internet Innovation Alliance’s Symposium “Developing a National Broadband Strategy:  Deployment, Adoption and the Stimulus.”

The Symposium will feature notables and pioneers in the technology space such as West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and NBA All-Star Chris Bosh and will highlight two main issues:  bringing broadband to unserved communities and making broadband affordable for all Americans.  Featured speaker at the event John B. Horrigan, Associate Director of the Pew Internet Project, will discuss the findings of Pew’s new report “Home Broadband Adoption 2009.” 

Statement on FCC Notice of Inquiry (NOI) Submission

The Internet Innovation Alliance, a broad-based coalition that has long supported a comprehensive national broadband strategy to achieve universal broadband availability and adoption, today released the following statement on its FCC Notice of Inquiry (NOI) submission for the development of a national broadband plan:

“An effective National Broadband Strategy will enable the government to partner with the private sector to extend broadband service to every corner of the country, while at the same time raising awareness of its benefits. A national broadband strategy should also evolve as technologies improve, and as we learn more from broadband mapping and from the return on initial stimulus investments. The best strategy will start by examining where we stand today and then identify policies to get us where we want to be.

Read the full filing here:
IIA_NOI_Filing.pdf

Statement from Internet Innovation Alliance on Obama’s 60-day Cybersecurity Report

The Internet Innovation Alliance, a broad-based coalition supporting progress with a National Broadband Strategy, today released the following statement in support of President Obama’s 60-day cybersecurity report:

“We commend President Obama for recognizing cybersecurity as an essential foundation for broadband Internet to realize its full economic, cultural and social potential. A safe, secure Internet with the public’s trust is critical to enabling the innovations that can improve our lives and to spurring broadband adoption among citizens….”

IIA Unveils “Broadband Fact Book,” Online Resource for Everything Broadband

The “IIA Broadband Fact Book,” a comprehensive new online resource featuring hundreds of broadband facts and statistics from more than 60 studies published over the past two years, is now available from the Internet Innovation Alliance.  The easy-to-navigate Web site is designed to be a convenient, one-of-a-kind research tool with information from the best available sources on broadband.