Consumers Union Praises Broadband Conduit Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today praised a bill introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., to boost deployment of high-speed Internet service across the nation.
The Broadband Conduit Deployment Act would require new federal highway projects to include “broadband conduit” pipes to house fiber-optic communications cables. The bill takes aim at one of the biggest costs of broadband deployment: the expense of tearing up and repaving roads. Under the bill, when the construction of a new federal road project is underway, “broadband conduit” pipes would be installed. This would allow a communications provider to install fiber-optic cable at a later date at a lower cost. The Department of Transportation could waive the requirement where necessary, and DOT would be required to work with the FCC to determine the level of existing Internet service and demand for broadband service in a particular area.
Chris Murray, senior attorney for Consumers Union, said, "This is cost-efficient policymaking. Instead of digging up the streets twice, once for road projects and again for communications services, this sensible legislation could accelerate broadband services and give taxpayers more bang for their buck.”
Joel Kelsey, CU policy analyst, said, “The typical internet service provider is 91 miles from its primary internet backbone pipe. That means, if you live in a rural area, anything you do online travels over 91 miles of dirt roads before it reaches a major highway. This legislation brings the promise of increased economic investment, better health care and better education through technology to every American community by investing in our national broadband infrastructure.”
