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Sean McLaughlin's picture

Broadband Access for the Next Generation!

Submitted by Sean McLaughlin on Jan 02, 2009 at 8:09 am
Tags: California, Community Internet, Digital Divide, Free Speech, Infrastructure, localism

Through any media, broadband access represents the future common means of sharing ideas and organizing people to act, regardless of frontiers.

Now is the time for local communities to advance broadband media access in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers" (UN, 1948).

Through any media - including public airwaves, copper wire, coaxial cable, or glass fibers - broadband access has the potential to advance the progress of local regions with respect to education, healthcare, economic development, level of civic discourse, and the quality of life.

Regardless of frontiers, next generation platforms for effectively sharing local voices, organizing information and cultural resources, creating open media archives and building open source solutions will require universal and affordable access to broadband connections. And these connections must travel across public land and public airwaves.

Because broadband communication systems are built upon public rights of way and public spectrum, their operations must be held accountable to meet critical needs for diversity and localism. Local participation and public oversight are essential to protect freedom of communication via broadband media access.

To deliver on the promise for open media and broadband access to provide freedom of information and freedom of expression for the next generation, local governments - including our libraries, colleges, schools and community service districts -need to participate in developing access to local broadband resources.

General plan documents can provide a guiding vision for universal access to broadband media. People everywhere need to be more involved to support local efforts that build community media and broadband infrastructure. This is particularly true in remote, rural and micropolitan regions, such as the Redwood Coast of North America.

For information about our efforts on the Redwood Coast: http://accesshumboldt.net