Here’s the latest from the US Broadband Coalition…

On September 24, the US Broadband Coalition – a broad and diverse array of 160 organizations – will issue a report that identifies the key issues and a range of policy options that the U.S. should consider in determining its broadband future. The report is especially relevant and timely because the Federal Communications Commission must submit a national broadband plan to Congress by February 2010. The report builds on the Coalition’s December 2008 “Call to Action for a National Broadband Plan” that not only provided a policy framework for a national broadband plan but also committed the signatories to work together to address key issues and policy priorities. The Coalition’s membership includes representatives of many prominent communications providers, high technology companies, manufacturers, consumers, labor unions, public interest groups, educators, state and local governments, utilities, content providers and other groups concerned about America’s broadband future.

For more information please visit http://bb4us.net/

I got a sneak preview of a draft report. What I liked was how they outlined the various policy options. After watching the Minnesota Ultra High Speed Task Force, I can see that smart people really disagree on some issues. In some areas you can’t compromise, both because compromise waters down the recommendation but also because sometimes there’s no middle ground. (You can’t half chop down a tree.) In some ways just laying out the issues and the reasoning behind the divergent views is as valuable.

Sadly I don’t see an online aspect of the meeting.