National Broadband by 2007
By: Kelly Green

Bush Takes a Stand on Broadband

While giving a speech about home ownership at the Expo New Mexico at the end of March, President George W. Bush claimed "we ought to have universal, affordable access to broadband technology by the year 2007. And then we ought to make sure that as soon as possible thereafter consumers have plenty of choices." Bush failed to mention how he intends for the nationwide broadband to be implemented.

Recently the amount of subscribers to high-speed internet has been increasing rapidly. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has stated a 45 percent increase in 2002/2003 to 23.5 million lines. Unfortunately market forecasters fear that the growth rate will be slowing from now until 2007, at which point it might hit as low as a 16.3 percent increase. Bush hopes that lowering the price of broadband will help to create more new users. It has also been suggested that broadband be subsidized for those who cannot afford it from the same fund, the Universal Service Fund that subsidizes telephone services currently. 

Regardless of whether or not broadband is available to everyone by 2007 one thing is for sure, Bush's recent statements will generate more of a shift to the internet. This will mean more companies with their company information displayed via websites. This will also mean an increase in services offered over the internet.