Publication Type: Statement
Date: 2/23/2010Contact: Rob Stoddard/Brian Dietz 202-222-2350
“The FCC survey confirms that increasing broadband adoption in the U.S. will require a holistic approach to address the key reasons why consumers have not yet subscribed, including affordability, relevance to their lives, lack of a computer and inadequate digital training. Major cable operators recently proposed an innovative ‘Adoption Plus’ broadband program targeted at millions of middle-school students from low-income families that would combine discounted service and equipment with digital literacy training. We are committed to working with the FCC and other stakeholders on ‘A+’ or other similar programs that attack the key barriers to broadband adoption, and support efforts in Congress by Sen. Rockefeller and Reps. Markey and Matsui to increase broadband adoption among low-income families.”
[In an effort to help close America’s digital divide in broadband service, NCTA in December proposed an innovative nationwide public-private partnership that combines digital media literacy training with discounted broadband service and computers. The Adoption Plus (A+) pilot program is a proposed two-year public-private partnership to promote broadband adoption for up to 3.5 million middle school-aged children eligible for the National School Lunch Program in approximately 1.8 million low-income households that do not currently receive broadband services.]
NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access after investing more than $145 billion to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to millions of American consumers.