STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER
MICHAEL J. COPPS
ON THE BROADBAND ADOPTION REPORT
When we issued our National Broadband Plan more than a year and a half ago, I was 
thrilled that, at long last, we had a national plan to encourage the delivery and adoption of 
high-speed, opportunity-creating, affordable broadband to all Americans. In adopting 
Universal Service and Intercarrier Compensation reforms last month, we began to address 
concretely the challenge of broadband deployment in unserved communities. But we did 
so cognizant that deployment is only part of the solution. Adoption is the other critical 
component, perhaps an even larger part of the nation’s broadband challenge. So I am 
pleased that the Chairman has, among many other steps, focused attention on broadband 
adoption through the Connect to Compete initiative. I also greatly appreciate the fact that 
Commissioner Clyburn is lending her considerable expertise and commitment to the 
ongoing challenge of broadband adoption. 
A significant and immediate step the Commission can take to improve broadband 
adoption is to use the Universal Service Fund’s Low Income program to support 
broadband. I was looking forward to the opportunity to vote on reforms to the Low 
Income program, but it looks like that will not happen while I am still on the 
Commission. I do hope that it happens soon after I leave, and I will be watching intently 
as the new year begins. 
Just as reforming the High Cost program does not guarantee ubiquitous broadband 
deployment, use of the Low Income program to support broadband will not guarantee 
ubiquitous adoption, but it is something substantive the Commission can do to help 
provide access to those who have spent too long on the broadband sidelines.
We must commit -- as a Commission and as a country -- to finding creative ways to get 
everyone connected. I appreciate the broadband adoption team’s commitment to finding 
ways to encourage public-private partnerships and applaud those entities that have joined 
in efforts to make broadband more widely available and relevant to everyone by 
providing discounted access to broadband services and equipment as well as digital 
literacy training and resources. As I have said before, every one of our citizens must 
have access to broadband in order to participate fully in 21st century life.  Access denied 
is opportunity denied, and the present condition of the country does not countenance our 
squandering any opportunities that are out there. And certain it is that we can no longer 
afford to have digital divides between races and ethnic groups, between haves and have-
nots, between those living in big cities and those living in rural areas or tribal lands, 
between the able-bodied and persons with disabilities. So, I welcome today’s report and 
thank the staff for highlighting the work that is being done—and the even heavier lifting 
that remains to be done—to make affordable broadband available to all.