CC - Item 4E - Universal High Speed Broadband• •
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
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FROM: OLIVER CHI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
SUBJECT: UNIVERSAL HIGH SPEED BROADBAND
SUMMARY
The United States has been slow to develop truly high speed networks. Other countries have
overtaken the U.S. both in the speeds that are being provided and the percentage of people who
have access to high speed networks. In fact, the U.S. has fallen to 16th in the world in terms of
high speed Internet access.
The emergence of a new communications system - one based on high speed interactive
networks designed for voice, data, and video communications - opens up tremendous
opportunities for improving the quality of our economic, civic, and personal lives. A true high speed
digital network offers advantages far beyond increased entertainment choices; it will accelerate
business development and innovations in telemedicine, interactive distance learning, and e-
government. As with the Internet itself, it is difficult to predict the advances that a true high speed
network will inspire.
The Communication Worker's of America (CWA) believes that the goal of U.S. communications
policy should be to connect each to all - the more people connected to a network, the greater the
value of the network itself and the services it enables. Almost every other developed country has a
cohesive and comprehensive national strategy to stimulate the deployment of high speed
broadband by establishing specific goals and policies. In the U.S. there is no organized or
systematic plan. This policy vacuum threatens America's ability to maintain its leadership in high
technology and applications. To assure economic growth, CWA is campaigning for the U.S. to
reverse current trends and set a national policy, and is requesting that local governments adopt a
resolution supporting this effort.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2007-38, supporting the need of a
national policy guaranteeing high speed internet access to everyone in our country
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Attachment A - Resolution on Speed Matters
APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: 0
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RESOLUTION NO.2007-38
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROSEMEAD SUPPORTING UNIVERSAL HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND
WHEREAS, high speed internet is absolutely necessary to fuel our local, state
and national economy; to promote education and integrated learning; to facilitate
independent living for residents who are disabled, ill, or have restricted mobility; and to
fully engage in e-government, civic participation, and public safety; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. currently ranks below most European and developed Asian
countries in the speed and accessibility of broadband communications infrastructure
and therefore has a lot of ground to cover to remain competitive with other economies
that have already adopted policies that will facilitate job growth, business advancement,
and individual achievement through access to information and markets; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead must act now to support policies that will
guarantee every resident, and every child, access to all the promises of the information
age.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Speed and universality matter for Internet access - High-tech
innovation, job growth, telemedicine, distance learning, rural development, public safety
and e-government requires truly high speed, universal networks so that no resident or
child is left offline.
SECTION 2. The U.S. "High Speed" definition is too slow - The FCC defines
"high speed" as 200 kilobits per second (kbps) downstream. Government policies
should immediately set "high speed" definition at 2 megabits per second (mbps)
downstream, 1 mbps upstream.
SECTION 3. A nation high speed Internet for all policy is critical - The City of
Rosemead supports policies for universal access.
SECTION 4. The City supports the preservation of an open Internet - High
speed, high capacity networks will eliminate bandwidth scarcity and will promote an
open Internet.
SECTION 5. Consumer and Worker protections must be safeguarded - Public
policies should support the growth of stable, skilled career employment in the
broadband industry as a key to maintaining quality service.
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Resolution No. 2007-38
Page 2
SECTION 6. The Mayor is hereby authorized to affix his signature to this
resolution signifying to its adoption by the City Council of the City of Rosemead, and the
City Clerk, or his duly appointed deputy, is direct to attest hereto.
PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 25th day of September 2007.
JOHN TRAN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
NINA CASTRUITA, CITY CLERK