Obama transition team clarifies broadband support: Stimulus package not designed to fund nationwide broadband rollout

A top tech member of the Obama transition team today said the broadband component of the increasingly contentious economic stimulus package in Congress is not designed to completely meet the president-elect’s overarching goal of increasing the availability of high-speed Internet connections – in part through wireless technology – throughout the country.
“Don’t confuse a piece of the puzzle with the puzzle,” said Blair Levin, a former Federal Communications Commission official who is on leave from his telecom analyst job at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.
Levin, one of three members of the transition team’s technology, innovation and government reform policy working group, said there has been confusion between what President-elect Barack Obama and the Democratic-led Congress are considering for broadband incentives in an economic recovery legislation that could cost up to $1 trillion and bring broadband within reach of more Americans.
Levin said broadband elements of the economic stimulus package – like other parts of the legislation that Obama hopes to sign into law shortly after his inauguration – are designed to be timely, targeted and temporary and therefore represent only a subset of the president-elect’s broadband program.
“The broadband piece of the Obama agenda is not going to be done solely in the economic recovery package,” stated Levin, who was often mentioned as a leading candidate to chair the FCC until it surfaced that Obama had settled on Levin’s former colleague at the agency – Julius Genachowski – for the post.
Levin is joined on the transition team’s technology, innovation and government reform policy working group by Genachowski and Sonal Shah, who oversees Google.org’s global development efforts.
Genachowski praised
Though Obama has yet to officially nominate Genachowski to the top spot at the FCC, statements of congratulations and praise continue to come from the wireless industry, Capitol Hill and leading consumer groups.
“On behalf of CTIA and the wireless industry, I want to congratulate Julius Genachowski on his expected nomination to chair the FCC,” said Steve Largent, president of the cellular association. “Mr. Genachowski would bring to the office a wealth of knowledge on telecommunications, legal and business matters, as well as a keen understanding of how the efficient deployment of wireless broadband technology can spur economic growth. Mr. Genachowski has demonstrated a strong belief in forward thinking regulatory policies. He recognizes the importance of a balanced regulatory approach and appreciates the unique benefits and services the wireless industry has to offer.”
New Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) also said Genachowski has the right stuff to lead the telecom agency.
“There is no question that Julius Genachowski has the experience and credentials to successfully reinvigorate the FCC as chair. I commend President-elect Obama for nominating someone who is completely committed to making technology accessible to all Americans and I look forward to working with him on the many telecommunications challenges that the commission and the committee will face in the months and years ahead.”
Chris Murray, senior counsel for Consumers Union, said Genachowski brings to the FCC a solid grasp of what an unfettered Internet can contribute to the struggling economy.
“We’re encouraged by this choice for FCC chairman, someone who understands the communications and media industries well, and someone who gets how important an open Internet is to economic growth,” he said. “The first major challenge he will face is minimizing the number of TVs that lose signal after the digital TV transition. We stand ready to work with the new chairman to do whatever it takes to help make this big switch as smooth as possible.”