Prioritize Unserved Areas With Infrastructure Funding: O'Rielly

Policymakers must consider four “key” principles as they implement the recent broadband programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, said former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. “I ultimately believe you have to stay focused on the unserved Americans,” O’Rielly said, saying the “basic benchmark” should be 25/3 Mbps speeds. Another factor to consider is other barriers to deployment, he said, citing pole attachments, rights of way and other costs of building networks. Policymakers will need to address adoption beyond affordability, O’Rielly said: “It’s going to require partnerships with a lot of organizations … to really drive home the importance of the service.” Policymakers will also need to act “thoughtfully” and include transparency measures in any broadband program, he said.