BROADBAND LIKE IKE

When President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, his advisers did not cloud the public debate with questions of whether interstate highways should be two or four lanes wide. They instead espoused the social and commercial results made possible by this underlying infrastructure development program. They captured the people's imagination with images of social and economic transformation — including improved access to regional trade, easier movement of goods for export and the creation of new jobs.

Close to a half-century later, a new kind of social and economic transformation is afoot. Experts say a rosier future hinges on the development of broadband networks, but with this opportunity for bold new action, already we are seeing misguided efforts to foster public policy and opinion. Policymakers around the globe are now reviewing proposals for national broadband network infrastructure programs, but with no similar policy model already in existence, how might we best portray a program to guarantee that it's broadly embraced?

We can start by explaining the intrinsic importance of broadband technology by means of simple yet vivid analogies. We should clearly articulate that broadband infrastructure is a foundation for e-commerce, and the anticipated outcome will contribute to the common good of all Americans.

We should also explain that the Internet isn't just about surfing Web pages and instead offer up specific examples. There are many pragmatic applications for small and medium-sized enterprises to leverage the Internet to open new markets for their products and services. Likewise, greater importance must be placed upon the more obvious tangible benefits of business applications that are totally dependent on attaining and enhancing access to appropriate telecom infrastructure — bandwidth demand will drive bandwidth supply.

It won't happen overnight. The staged implementation of Eisenhower's grand plan and the deployment of the physical highway and bridge infrastructure occurred over many years, and actually didn't reach or benefit all of the intended beneficiaries as soon as had been originally anticipated. In fact, when the last stoplight on the interstate system — situated on I-90 in Wallace, Idaho — was finally removed, townspeople gave it a proper burial in the local cemetery, complete with a 21-gun salute.

Perhaps we can all witness the same level of passionate community engagement when the enlightened citizens of your town finally lay the last 56 kb/s analog modem to rest.

DOSSIER: DAVID H. DEANS

Occupation: Founder of the Economic TeleDevelopment Forum

Location: Austin, Texas

Current reading: “The Agenda: What Every Business Must Do to Dominate the Decade” by Michael Hammer, and “The Cluetrain Manifesto” by Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls and David Weinberger

Favorite Web sites: www.marketingprofs.com; www.tompeters.com; www.metakm.com

Hobbies: Reading, writing and biking

Next project: The GeoBridge Project, a viaduct for international trade