Responses from various public figures regarding "Connect to Compete," the new initiative designed to promote education and broadband adoption by providing low-cost, discounted broadband Internet service to millions of K-12 students that don't currently have broadband in their homes.
President Barack Obama
"Securing America's competitiveness in a global economy means making sure that every American has access to high-speed broadband Internet and is able to take advantage of it. This important partnership between my administration and American businesses represents a major step toward closing the digital divide -- connecting more families to the 21st-century economy, creating new jobs and unleashing new opportunities, and helping America win the future."
Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV)
Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
"Providing everyone in this country with access to high-speed Internet service is an essential part of making sure Americans have the tools they need to compete in the 21st century. That's why I applaud this cable industry effort to tackle barriers to broadband adoption. By offering low-cost broadband service to millions of families, they are taking an important step toward closing the digital divide."
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
"I commend the companies and groups involved in this worthwhile cause to provide low-income families with the resources they desperately need to access the wealth of information on the Internet. This is a wonderful example of industry and the government working together to provide much-needed assistance without the need for more regulations or taxpayer dollars."
Representative Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05)
U.S. House Democratic Whip
"I commend the new Connect to Compete program which will provide access to computers and broadband internet for low income children, so that they are not left behind in our increasingly digital world. Access to the internet has become a key part of education and can be a bridge out of poverty. Thanks to the Connect to Compete program, we're working to close the digital divide by helping families in need connect with the digital world and better the education of their children."
Representative Doris Matsui (CA-05)
House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
"I applaud the FCC's new 'Connect to Compete' initiative that will make an unprecedented investment in getting low-income Americans online. In today's technology-driven world, those without access to computers or the Internet are simply at a disadvantage – in their education, in their job search, in their lives.
"As we move further into the Digital Age, we must continue working to close the Digital Divide so that every American can have the same opportunity to succeed. We never know where the next big idea will come from, or who the next Steve Jobs will be. But if we don't give every American the tools they need, and if we don't foster innovation in every corner of our country, we will never know.
"I thank Chairman Genachowski and the FCC, participating cable companies, and other partners for helping to see to it that income does not hinder our hard-working families from having access to the technologies that have become a necessity, rather than a luxury, in the modern age, and for ensuring that America continues to compete."
Representative Edward J. Markey (MA-7)
House Energy and Commerce Committee
"Today's announcement represents a strong, significant and substantial new effort to bring high-speed Internet connections to millions of Americans without access to one of the indispensable technology tools of the 21st century. The FCC and its private sector partners are to be commended for this creative and bold new plan. This innovative strategy should open up a world of educational and social possibilities for low-income Americans who have been disconnected from opportunities in the digital age while also increasing our competitiveness in the global marketplace. I commend the FCC for its efforts to close the digital divide, and I look forward to working with the Commission to strengthen our commitment to fulfilling the goal of the National Broadband Plan to bring the power and promise of broadband to all Americans."
Joanne Hovis,
President
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA)
"Chairman Genachowski has made increased broadband adoption one of his top priorities and we are happy to see his efforts reflected in this new program. With the involvement and dedication of NCTA, its members, and program partners, C2C has the potential to improve the lives of many of our most needy students."
Steve Traylor, Executive Director
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA)
"Broadband plays an increasingly important role in all our lives and is especially important in providing a quality education. By providing low-cost broadband services and addressing such problems as digital literacy and access to affordable computer equipment, the C2C program will provide more of our students with the tools they need to compete in today's global economy."
James P. Steyer
Founder and Chief Executive Officer,Common Sense Media
"It's great news to see the cable industry take the initiative to propose new ways to partner with the government to help the most underserved kids get access to broadband. It's even more important to see that industry leaders recognize that kids need digital literacy and media education programs so that they can use broadband in smart, safe ways that will bring real improvements not only to their education but also their economic futures."
Stephen Balkam
Chief Executive Officer, Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)
"FOSI supports the Adoption Plus proposal to extend broadband to unserved communities, particularly due to the focus on digital literacy. As we encourage greater broadband adoption across the country, it's essential to include educational programs that encourage online responsibility and digital citizenship. This large and complex challenge will only be tackled through public/private partnerships such as the one proposed and we applaud NCTA for its efforts."
Gus West
Board Chair, The Hispanic Institute (THI)
"The Hispanic Institute commends the FCC and President Obama for their creativity in forming a broad coalition of computer hardware suppliers, internet providers and non-profits to both service and educate low-income Americans on the benefits of crossing the digital divide. In our opinion this commercial/non-commercial alliance has the best chance for success…. THI applauds the scope of this program and believes it will bring more American families into the digital world. THI believes that this program will be sustained and expanded even further."
Charles M. Davidson
Director of the Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP), New York Law School
"The consortium of companies partnering with the FCC in an effort to close the digital divide – from cable broadband providers to software and hardware companies – are to be commended for addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time. Broadband is rapidly transforming every aspect of modern life. Those who remain unconnected – by choice or by circumstance – are at risk of being left behind in our national and global transition to a digital society. This is why today's announcement is so monumental. The FCC's Connect to Compete initiative will benefit immensely from the generous commitments made by firms like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Microsoft, and Morgan Stanley. Such a comprehensive solution is needed to address this complex problem. Today's announcement is a significant step toward connecting the tens of millions of Americans who remain without a high-speed connection to the Internet."
Douglas A. Levin
Executive Director, State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
"The Connect to Compete (C2C) partnership is a remarkable step and commitment by the U.S. cable industry to ensure that our most vulnerable students are afforded the opportunity to benefit from next generation learning opportunities powered by broadband. Technology creates opportunities to learn, to collaborate, to pursue our individual hopes and dreams, and - if we are serious about meeting our longstanding goals for public education - we can no longer tolerate the inequities in ready access to broadband-enabled technology in and outside of our nation's schools and classrooms. We commend NCTA and its cable Internet Service Providers for committing to address this vitally important issue.
"On behalf of the technology leadership of state departments of education, we congratulate you on this announcement and look forward to working with the industry, other C2C partners, the FCC, the US Department of Education and any and all others to ensure its success."
Maria E. Brennan
President & CEO, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT)
"WICT applauds NCTA, the FCC and the cable industry for unifying to launch the Connect-to-Compete initiative. As an organization that represents women, WICT appreciates what this means for qualified families and the educational opportunity it provides these children. Cable connects them to the future."
Erin M. Fuller
President, Alliance for Women in Media (AWM)
"Women and girls in low-income households are trapped in a vicious cycle. Less employment, less education and less income leads to less digital media access and usage. NCTA's ground-breaking initiative could break this cycle for millions of families by giving them affordable access to information they can only get through the Internet."
Bartlett D. Cleland
Policy Counsel, Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI)
"The marketplace has always been the only rational or affordable means to bring broadband to as many households as possible. The cable industry is providing a huge service and is bearing the expense of this volunteer program as individual companies."
Keith R. Krueger
CEO, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
"We applaud the cable industry for spearheading the Connect to Compete program as this and other efforts are key to ensuring that all families have affordable access to high-speed cable Internet service," said CoSN CEO Keith Krueger. "Home access to high speed Internet is increasingly essential to learning, and remains today's digital divide for less affluent families. We call on broadband Internet providers to make a similar commitment."
National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
"The National PTA commends the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and its cable Internet Service Providers for launching their initiative today to promote education and broadband adoption by offering low-cost, discounted Internet service to millions of K-12 students that don't currently have broadband in their homes... By connecting families with their child's education, students have a more likely chance to succeed. With the use of technology growing in schools more and more every day, it is vital that all children have the tools and resources they need to succeed regardless of their socio-economic status."
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
NCSL supports the C2C initiative to provide broadband Internet to millions of needy students. The program is consistent with NCSL's policy, as adopted by the Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee, of supporting private-public partnerships that develop robust broadband awareness, adoption, and use programs. As noted in NCSL's policy, consumers have cited the expense and the lack of a computer and digital skills as reasons for not adopting broadband. The C2C partnership addresses all of these factors by providing discounted computers, lo-cost broadband access, and digital literacy training to eligible families.