View source for Resolution Calling on the Federal Government to Maximize Its Stimulus Support for Broadband Internet Adoption and Use Programs Exposed

The '''[[:media:9B6-CALLING_ON_THE_FEDERAL_GOVERNMENT_TO_MAXIMIZE_ITS_STIMULUS_SUPPORT_FOR_BROADBAND_INTERNET_ADOPTION_AND_USE_PROGRAMS_Exposed.pdf|Resolution Calling on the Federal Government to Maximize Its Stimulus Support for Broadband Internet Adoption and Use Programs]]''' was adopted by ALEC's [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Communications_and_Technology_Task_Force Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force] on July 16, 2009, approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on August 27, 2009. An identical version of this Resolution is posted on ALEC.org. (Accessed 3/17/2016).

==ALEC Resolution Text==

WHEREAS, among the approximately 92 percent of American households that have access to broadband Internet
services, only about 61 percent of U.S. households subscribe[1] and

WHEREAS, research shows that a "lack of interest" in broadband is one of the main reasons certain populations do
not seek out broadband services[2]; and

WHEREAS, research also shows that many non-broadband households view broadband as being either irrelevant or
difficult to use,[3] and nearly half of the population that does not subscribe to broadband says it does not need such a
connection[4]; and

WHEREAS, Americans that do not have broadband at home are disproportionately lower-income and older than
average and fewer than one-quarter of such Americans have broadband at home[5]; and

WHEREAS, American Legislative Exchange Council believes that widespread efforts to promote broadband
adoption, use, and digital literacy are critical to improving the nation's long-term competitiveness in a global market,
and to achieving certain socioeconomic improvements in the quality of American life; and

WHEREAS, expanding adoption, use and digital literacy skills will allow a greater number of Americans to fully take
advantage of the benefits of broadband based applications such as tele-health, energy management and education
opportunities online; and

WHEREAS, the broadband funding programs established in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
dedicate significant resources to promoting broadband awareness, adoption, use, and digital literacy by these
populations; shall it

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Legislative Exchange Council calls upon the federal agencies
distributing the broadband funding included in the ARRA to expressly mandate that broadband awareness, adoption,
use, and digital literacy programs receive funding priority;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Legislative Exchange Council calls upon the federal agencies
implementing the broadband funding included in the ARRA to follow Congress' clear legislative intent with respect to
broadband adoption, use, and digital literacy treat the mandated minimum expenditure of $250 million for these
purposes as a threshold level with a maximum limited only by the size of the broadband stimulus program itself.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be forwarded to members of Congress, the Administration, and the
relevant federal agencies implementing the broadband funding programs including but not limited to the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Legislative Exchange Council calls upon all levels of
governments to work cooperatively with the private sector, nonprofits, and academia to develop robust broadband
awareness, adoption, and use programs.


Approved by the Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force on July 16, 2009.

Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on August 27, 2009.


[1] Current Population Survey (October 2007), U.S. Census Bureau; See Leslie Cauley, Internet use triples in decade; broadband surges, USA Today, June 4, 2009.

[2] John B. Horrigan, Obama’s Online Opportunities II: If You Build It, Will They Log On? at 2 (Pew) (2009).

[3] Horrigan, at iii, 12.

[4] Consumer Insights to America’s Broadband Challenge at 2, Connected Nation (Oct. 13, 2008).

[5] Horrigan, at iii, 12.