by Becca Vargo Daggett & Christopher Mitchell Telecommunications As Commons Initiative Institute for Local Self Reliance May 2007 This brief article takes a welcoming, but critical look at attorneys Jim Baller and Casey Lide's national proposal, "Eight Bold Steps to a National Broadband Strategy." This proposal encourages national discussion of the U.S. broadband problem, by suggesting the installment of a national task force that would develop national goals and the strategies to make these goals possible. However, while this is recognized as a welcome opening to a national discussion on the U.S. broadband problem, this article takes concern with the major local oversights a national strategy poses. This concern is illustrated with two examples: the majority of broadband problems are local, and therefore call for a local solution; and most of the current national broadband problems are the result of federal government involvement. In order to alleviate these concerns, the article suggests three standards an effective national strategy should abide by: (1)"Local authority should be paramount." Since local issues differ across the nation, local governments are more aware of the specific needs of their locale. (2) "The strategy should not rely on public subsidies for private, for-profit entities." While investments result in benefits, subsidies only breed dependence. (3) "Corporations should not expect the privilege of participating in the process without giving something in return." The article concludes with a pie chart and U.S. map, revealing the locations of publicly owned networks within the U.S. Each network is distinguished with a color corresponding to type of owner. States that carry restrictions on municipal entry are also displayed. For the complete analysis-- http://www.newrules.org/info/natl-strategy.pdf