SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Background:
In October 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed an Executive Order titled "Twenty-First Century Government: Expanding Broadband Access and Usage in California." In addition to other policies, this order created the California Broadband Task Force (CBTF) to "bring together public and private stakeholders to remove barriers to broadband access, identify opportunities for increased broadband adoption, and enable the creation and deployment of new advanced communication technologies."
Today, the Task Force issued a final report that recommends a comprehensive set of actions that California can take to eliminate barriers to broadband access and adoption.
The following may be attributed to Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California:
"The Task Force and its members should be commended for their efforts to address an issue that is important to all Californians. As a leader in delivering broadband to consumers, businesses and government, we recognize that a strong broadband infrastructure is the foundation for the 21st century economy. AT&T sees an exciting future with broadband delivering a range of new services, educational opportunities through distance learning, and expanded, more affordable healthcare to more Californians. An improved digital infrastructure will also bring new jobs and ensure the Golden State remains a leader in driving new, innovative technologies.
AT&T is supportive of the Task Force recommendations. We are especially pleased the Task Force has recommended the development of a new permitting standard that will help improve the speed with which broadband is deployed in cities across the state.
We look forward to working with the California Public Utilities Commission and with officials in Sacramento to implement these recommendations and transform the vision of the Task Force into a reality for California."
