Thanks to Blandin Foundation President Jim Hoolihan for pointing me to an essay in the recent Chronicle of Philanthropy by Luis Ubinas, Jim’s counterpart at Ford Foundation. Ford is committing $50-million over the next five years to help ensure that broadband access to the Internet becomes a reality for all citizens and that public-interest values in the online space itself are protected. Ubinas writes, “The effort to ensure universal access to high-speed Internet among all citizens is a critical next step to ensuring that America realizes its great aspiration of equal opportunity for all.” He calls for a broad consensus of government and private partners “willing to stand up for the public good.” I especially like his description of the Internet as a “gateway to democratic participation, economic opportunity, and human expression.” He even calls universal acess to an open Internet “critical to the future of our country.” The good news for all of us who agree, is that Ford’s investment will help bring attention to this message. With the help of our 19 partners and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars, Blandin Foundation is humbled by the opportunity to join Ford Foundation in this important work.
Blandin on Broadband
News and information on broadband use, policy, and trends
Thank you for your work on this effort. I got mad at Comcast because they told me one thing, I sent
them a confirming email and then they said we never talked.
So I did a little research. According to speednet, America’s average internet speed ranks 30th in the world! Public investments created the internet. Comcast took the public’s money build a private for profit system and now is keeping the price of internet artificially high. I live in Eagan. Comcast is, nearly, my only choice for high speed internet!!!
The problem with public policy is that people who make money from the policy control the system. This greed creates consequence: a poor child in the city can not access internet, entire rural communities are locked out. In Finland, internet access is considered a right.
Again thank you for your work. I am happy to volunteer on this issue.
The US does not rank well in terms of broadband speeds or access. There seems to be at least a growing interest with policymakers and consumers – especially with the recent Minnesota broadband bill.
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