Public Power - September/October 2007 - (Page 38)

U.S. Lags in Broadband Development investments they have declined to make.” Copps said the political climate in recent years is to let the market solve the problems associated with broadband public policy and infrastructure challenges. “While this climate has achieved some notable successes, it is not going to solve all the problems,” he said. Geography is also a factor in the U.S. broadband lag, Bell said. “Many of the top 15 broadband nations are geographically small with dense populations,” Bell said. “Policy, however, makes a huge difference,” Bell said. “The geography of the United States is hardly recent news, and one might expect policymakers to plan for this fact. In Canada, national policy has focused on ensuring that Canadians living outside of urban areas gain access to highquality communications including Call The Wright People! • Line Clearance • Mechanical Line Clearing • Right-Of-Way Mowing • Land Clearing • Herbicide Application • Substation Restoration and Maintenance • Commercial and Residential Tree Care Whatever the situation, an emergency or routine line clearance, our utility customers know they can count on Wright Tree Service to get the job done – quickly, efﬁciently and safely. From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes, from Canada to the tip of Texas, we’re the Wright people for your job! Call or write for our capabilities brochure or visit our website. For Expert Vegetation Management broadband, and the government has created generous subsidies to make it possible. “Similar policies in the Scandinavian countries have been used to overcome their geographic barriers,” Bell said. “South Korea tops the list partly because of size and the concentration of its population in the Seoul region. But the biggest factor was a top-down decision by national government to foster broadband. They directed companies to make investments, set mandates on pricing and invested tax dollars in subsidies. As a result, South Korea saw an explosion in the number of carriers and in deployment. The result is very inexpensive broadband at speeds that U.S. consumers can only dream about.” Huval believes local governments are potentially the best providers of advanced telecommunications infrastructure. They are accountable only to citizens and will price services reasonably, he said. “Local governments should not be hamstrung in any way that keeps them from meeting the vision and needs of their communities,” he DANGER “Call me for immediate action!” WRIGHT TREE SERVICE P. O. Box 1718, Des Moines, IA 50306 www.wrighttree.com — Scott Packard, President/CEO To call Electromark for your utility marking needs. Please Contact: Jessica Krasucki, Inside Sales Specialist (800)295-TAGS Mention Code PP0907 www.electromark.com 1-800-882-1216 Electromark 38 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007 PUBLIC POWER

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - September/October 2007

Contents Washington Focus 10 Questions Public Power (Every) Week Training Tomorrow’s Work Force What’s in Your Wallet? U.S. Lags in Broadband Deployment Now What? For Engineers Safety Community Broadband For Governing Boards Human Resources Hometown Connections Customer Service DEED Index to Advertisers Advertisers by Category Parting Shot

Public Power - September/October 2007

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