Clinton Campaign Makes Painfully Ambiguous Broadband Promises Hilary Clinton is promising a major broadband expansion as part of the Presidential candidate's $275 billion infrastructure upgrade plan. The Clinton campaign website promises faster broadband connections for most Americans, but fails to specify how exactly this will be accomplished above and beyond the existing subsidy programs and policies already in place at the FCC and other government agencies.

"Clinton believes that high-speed Internet access is not a luxury; it is a necessity for equal opportunity and social mobility in a 21st century economy," the campaign states. "That’s why she will finish the job of connecting America’s households to the Internet, committing that by 2020, 100 percent of households in America will have access to affordable broadband that delivers world-class speeds sufficient to meet families’ needs." Again, terms like "world-class," "sufficient" and "affordable" replace actual hard metrics. Unfortunately that's been the status quo for both parties when it comes to shoring up broadband coverage gaps, most of which are courtesy of a lack of last-mile competition few politicians seem to have an actual policy cure for. Again, terms like "world-class," "sufficient" and "affordable" replace actual hard metrics. Unfortunately that's been the status quo for both parties when it comes to shoring up broadband coverage gaps, most of which are courtesy of a lack of last-mile competition few politicians seem to have an actual policy cure for.







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Most recommended from 45 comments



SuperSpy

join:2012-06-15

Coldwater, MI 23 recommendations SuperSpy Member "Promises" Clinton campaign promises a lot of things. I don't believe a single one of them.

kdwycha

join:2003-01-30

Ruskin, FL 11 recommendations kdwycha Member Well...



Under Bush he couldn't even open a door in China let alone put together any meaningful broadband and network standards. At least this administration opened the door to some net neutrality regulations as well as stemming misuse of USF by defining a minimum definition of broadband that's more in line with 2015.Under Bush he couldn't even open a door in China let alone put together any meaningful broadband and network standards.

Camelot One

MVM

join:2001-11-21

Greenwood, IN 7 recommendations Camelot One MVM Its all in the vocabulary "by 2020, 100 percent of households in America will have access to affordable broadband that delivers world-class speeds sufficient to meet families needs."

Lets break down the statement.



"100 percent" = 2016 version of "unlimited"

"access" = you can get it, not that you could afford it

"affordable" = you might be able to pay for a tiny data allotment

"broadband" = anything over 56k

"world-class speeds" = 3rd world countries will help bring the "world class" average number down.

"sufficient to meet families needs" = not a good connection, but enough to file your unemployment paperwork online



But most importantly,

"Clinton believes" = just kidding, but thanks for voting for me. amungus

Premium Member

join:2004-11-26

America 6 recommendations amungus Premium Member words mean nothing from most of these people. decifal

join:2007-03-10

Bon Aqua, TN 6 recommendations decifal Member remember I remember someone else making this promise... I believe hes in the white house now... Only 10 billion made it for the BB stimulus and most of that went to areas already with broadband, a huge part just disappeared and a very very small amount actually reached areas undeserved...



If they made the penalty for irresponsible management severe (head removed from body for instance), and gave say not even half what they gave the banks to gobble up rather than let any that would fail fail we'd be in much better shape as a connected country by now... Get rid of copper, fiber is where its at.



But non of that will happen WhatNow

Premium Member

join:2009-05-06

Charlotte, NC 2 recommendations WhatNow Premium Member which party If you want a chance at better broadband and internet go Democrat. You have seen what Republicans have not done. Karl has posted another article about the Republicans trying to kill Net Neutrality. The passed laws in many states to keep towns and cities from building fiber networks. The Republicans even want to make the internet more private owned.