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The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce
RESOLUTION #2005-07
Supporting – Telecommunications Reform
Through Active Affiliation and Participation in the National TeleCONCENSUS Coalition
WHEREAS: Maintaining America’s position as a global leader in telecommunications is key to sustaining real economic growth and improving our standard of living; and
WHEREAS: The nation’s telecommunications laws have failed to keep pace with advances in technology, have stifled new investments by the private sector, and have denied consumers and our economy the full benefits of a wide variety of new telecommunications services and choices; and
WHEREAS: Without modernized telecommunications laws, the United States cannot hope to maintain its role as an economic superpower. In rankings of global broadband deployment, the United States is in 16th place, down from 13th last year and 5th just five years ago. Conversely, in many parts of Asia, consumers enjoy broadband speeds 15 times faster than those typically found in the United States, yet they pay lower monthly fees.
WHEREAS: Only with competitive technologies supported by updated laws that will spur investment in the necessary telecommunications infrastructure can the United States participate fully in the global economy; and without them, U.S. companies may be forced to move jobs overseas.
WHEREAS: For the first time since 1996, the U.S. Congress will soon undertake a thorough review of the nation’s telecommunications laws; and
WHEREAS: To reinforce the urgency of this review, the U.S. Chamber and a number of leading telecommunications companies, chambers of commerce trade associations, telecommunications providers, equipment manufacturers, businesses, and consumers have formed the TeleCONSENSUS Coalition to educate members of Congress, the business community, and the general public about the need for telecommunications reform and the importance of broadband to the U.S. economy; and
WHEREAS: The TeleCONSENSUS Coalition will advocate for legislation based on the fundamental belief that telecommunications markets should be driven by consumer demand, advances in technology, and competition between telecommunications companies, while encouraging public interest goals.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, recognizing that an economic climate which fosters innovation and investment in its telecommunications industry is vital to a healthy and vibrant business community, supports telecommunication reform in concert with The TeleCONSENSUS Coalition based upon the following guiding principles:
- Updating telecommunications laws to foster innovation, expand consumer choice, spur investment, create jobs, enhance efficiency, and increase productivity.
- A statutory and regulatory structure that allows telecommunications markets to be driven by consumer demand, advances in technology, and competition between telecommunication companies, while encouraging public safety, consumer protection, access for people with disabilities, and other public interest goals.
- Universal service which ensures affordable basic telephone service for all Americans and Internet access in the nation’s schools and libraries.
- Repealing discriminatory or excessive telecommunications taxes and obsolete regulations that limit Americans’ access to innovative services and choices.
- Encouraging consumer choice and private-sector investment to drive the deployment of high-speed Internet access into our communities.
- Increasing the spectrum for innovative wireless services.
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