4/17/12
Michelle Hatten
ITM5000-08 Information Technologies Management
Mid-Term Essay

America needs a National Broadband Plan for economic growth, job creation and competitiveness. The Plan is to achieve affordability for all; there are millions of Americans who do not have access to the internet let along broadband. This addresses the issue and ensures that every American has access to broadband capabilities. Allowing Americans the opportunity to access broadband will advance consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety, homeland security, community development, healthcare delivery, energy independence and efficiencies, education, employee training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity and other national purposes. Due to the lag the US finds its self verses other countries relating to the advancement in broadband, The Plan is an innovative initiative to put Americans on a competitive path.

Broadband will impact healthcare by improving quality and better outcomes while lowering cost and improving data capture and use. The Plan will ensure all healthcare providers have access to affordable broadband. Broadband infrastructure is often costly for rural clinics and small physician offices. As well The Plan will improve Indian Health Services by upgrading their infrastructure and network of providers. Improvements create incentives for adoption by expanding reimbursement for e-care and removing barriers by modernizing regulations such as device approval, credentialing, privileging and licensing. Improvements will enable patients’ access to electronic health records if privacy is fully protected.

Broadband will impact education inside and outside the classroom. The Plan will allow the access of broadband to facilitate the flow of information, helping teachers, parents, schools and other organizations (such as libraries) to make better decisions for students’ needs and abilities. The FCC’s E-rate program will be upgraded to improve connectivity in the schools and libraries. Participants will be able to connect to the internet in a cost-effective way. Online learning and internet connectivity for mobile devices will enable the creation of digital content and learning systems while promoting digital literacy for children from economically disadvantaged communities because of the low cost and accessibility to these devices. Decision making will be improved by adoption of electronic educational records and improving financial data transparencies.

Broadband will impact Energy and Environment by modernizing the electric grid, making it more reliable and efficient. Unleash energy innovation in homes and buildings by making energy data readily accessible to consumers. The impact will assist transitioning to a clean energy economy by reducing carbon pollution. Enabling more efficient transportation by lessen America’s dependency on foreign oil. The Plan will as well enable improvements to energy efficiency and environmental impact of the ICT sector.

Broadband will impact Economic Opportunity by expanding access to jobs and training, supporting entrepreneurship and small businesses including women-owned and minority-owned enterprises from all backgrounds and strengthening community development efforts. These initiatives will drive growth and productivity gains through online platforms. The Plan integrates broadband assessment and planning into economic development efforts allowing regions and communities to compete globally by attracting new firms, investments and jobs.

Broadband will impact Government and Civic Performance by increasing public access to government information and providing new ways for citizens to participate in their democracy and community from City Hall to the Capitol. The Plan will drive greater efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery and internal operations. As well as improving the quantity and quality of civic performance by providing a platform for meaningful engagement with representatives and agencies. The government will be able to support efforts to deploy broadband in communities without service. Allowing citizens to obtain information and services from their government; making the government more open and transparent, creating a robust public media ecosystem and modernizing the democratic process.

Broadband will impact Public Safety and Homeland Security by allowing 1st Responders access to nationwide, wireless, interoperable broadband public safety networks to send and receive video and data. These measures will ensure all Americans can access emergency services. The Plan will promote innovation the way Americans are notified about emergencies. Also, improving and promoting cyber-security and critical infrastructure survivability to increase user confidence, trust and adoption of broadband communications