Chiehyu Li

On behalf of the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, we are pleased to submit these reply comments regarding the Commission's Notice of Inquiry on Fostering Innovation and Investment in the Wireless Communications Market.[1]   As the Commission noted, the market for wireless broadband services has been evolving at an extraordinarily rapid pace and is delivering new and empowering technologies to American

Program Associate, Open Technology Initiative

As Program Associate for the Open Technology Initiative at the New America Foundation, Chiehyu Li researches and analyzes international telecommunication policy and network industries. Her concentration is broadband Internet and technology in East Asian countries aimed at developing universal broadband services in the United States.

The Open Technology Initiative of the New America Foundation is calling for Truth-in-Labeling by our nation's broadband operators. Drawn from similar useful disclosure requirements by lenders, these Broadband Truth-in-Labeling disclosure standards will give the marketplace a much-needed tool that clarifies and adds meaning to the terms and conditions of the service being offered. 

Washington, D.C.--Today the New America Foundation's Open Technology released 100 Megabits or Bust! An Overview of National Broadband Goals from Around the Globe, a report on the successful broadband goals of Japan, Korea, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Taiwan. This report demonstrates the viability of not only reaching universal broadband access, but also reaching the speeds that will allow for continued leadership in the growth and innovation of the Internet.

When the Federal Communications Commission delivers a National Broadband Plan to Congress in February 2010 the United States will not be among the first countries to implement a national broadband strategy. Taiwan, Japan, and Korea all introduced national broadband strategies in the beginning of this decade and fifteen European Union Member states proposed National Broadband Strategies in 2003. This report reviews successful strategies and goals from six of these countries: Japan, Korea, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Taiwan.

Determining an appropriate definition of broadband is a critical part of the Commission's development of a National Broadband Plan. An appropriate definition is essential not only for establishing "what is broadband" and "where is it available," but also for shaping the future trajectory of telecommunications innovation in the United States.  The Open Technology Initiative of the New America Foundation makes the following recommendations for the Commission to consider in defining broadband:  

Washington, DC—Today, the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative released a report comparing bandwidth caps for high-speed Internet—including cable modem, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP), and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks-in the United States and Japan.  As the report documents, a large discrepancy exists between the two countries, suggesting that U.S. policy makers should investigate market conditions in Japan to determine why their network capacity supports far more per-customer throughput than U.S. broadband networks.

As part of the Open Technology Initiative's continuing research to compare international broadband capabilities and policies, we have completed this report comparing bandwidth or usage cap policies between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the United States and Japan. Bandwidth caps are imposed limits on the amount of data or traffic a subscriber can consume over their Internet connection.

Washington, DC - Today, the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative released a report comparing residential high-speed Internet pricing in the United States and Japan.  With broadband stimulus funding applications due soon and discussion over the creation of a national broadband policy heating up, this report sets a baseline for comparing the current state of Internet service provision. 

The following chart lists the price, download and upload speeds of residential Internet services in the U.S. and Japan.