Infrastructure Stimulus: The Rural Broadband Initiative: Deploying Next-Generation Broadband Service to Rural America (Jan. 5, 2009)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (“ARRP”) proposed by the incoming Obama administration will focus economic stimuli that result in: a) immediate job creation; b) long-term return on investment; and c) transparent dissemination of funds. This white paper proposes a Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) which uniquely accomplishes each of the above objectives. The extension of next-generation broadband telecommunications to 5.9 million access lines through the Universal Service Fund mechanism immediately could create more than 200,000 new jobs beginning in March 2009, while targeting rural communities that do not currently enjoy advanced telecommunications access. The RBI will result in long-term benefits to households and communities already identified as being in “high-cost” rural telecommunications geographic areas