National Broadband Project

by digby

Open Left is hosting a week-long discussion about National Broadband that I think is very intriguing. They are joined in this effort by Senator Dick Durbin, who writes today:

My hope is that over these four days, I will receive comments and suggestions that will help me draft legislation that will make the United States more competitive in terms of broadband access. Following this process, I will draft legislative language, which will be posted online, for all to view and comment on prior to its introduction. To my knowledge, this method of drafting legislation – soliciting public comment, translating it into legislative language, and requesting comments prior to introduction – has never been attempted at the federal level. I think this is a unique experiment in transparent government and an opportunity to demonstrate the democratic power of the internet. If we’re successful, it could become a model for the way legislation on health care, foreign policy, and education is drafted in the future.

There are several reasons why I chose America’s broadband strategy as the ideal issue for this process. First of all, those who are active on the issue of broadband policy and have the knowledge and experience to help me draft this legislation tend to leverage the power of the internet for advocacy efforts. This is the perfect forum for this issue. read on …

This is a very exciting experiment in participatory democracy and I hope that some of you will take the the opportunity to get involved. And this particular legislation is as vital to our future as the interstate highways system was after the second world war. We cannot compete, or have an informed citizenry, if we don’t ensure that every American has access to the internet. This is, as you all know better than anyone, where the action is.

Elana Levin of DMIblog posted a diary on Open Left about how important this is to the aspiring and middle class in which she quotes Thomas Jefferson:

“I think by far the most important bill in our whole code, is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness. . . . The tax which will be paid for this purpose is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance.”

I’ve got another one:

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
— James Madison

Oh heck, here’s another, (from my favorite founder):

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— Benjamin Franklin

This is going to be an interesting week in our nascent experiment in participatory democracy. The stakes are high and this is especially important to those of us who spend our time on the internet. Please join in if you have the time. It could pave the way for other forward thinking legislators like Senator Durbin to interact with us directly.

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