Tina Smith: “I think his point about competitive advantage is a very good one, and it is important for the Congress to remember that…”

“I think his point about competitive advantage is a very good one, and it is important for the Congress to remember that it applies not only internationally but also domestically. And it is an issue that is important to both sides of the aisle. For example, the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force--HTTF--has made the Broadband Tax Credit legislation a priority and a part of its policy agenda. This agenda states ``The Task Force understands that high speed Internet access has the power to transform how we use the Internet. Encouraging tax and regulatory policies that foster rapid, efficient, and competitive deployment of broadband and other important technologies to urban and rural areas will be crucial to ensure our economic growth and technological competitiveness.'' The fact is, those communities that do not have broadband will invariably be at the disadvantage to those that do. And unfortunately, the communities that often have little or no broadband service are rural and low-income areas.”