ICT Policy in a Changing Time

Now that it's 2008, we're facing an exciting time, not only in the ICT community but in the nation. The Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing this week, BICSI's Winter Conference is up next, and NXTcomm is rolling out all manner of exciting news about its industry-leading lineup this June.  This comes just as all eyes are on the presidential primaries in both parties, the closest and most competitive in decades.

In our corner of the world, we know how significant policies can be to deployment, so the two are inextricably connected. Due to a policy framework that facilitates investment and innovation in our nation's next-generation broadband infrastructure, broadband penetration and wireless subscription rates are still climbing in the U.S. — but most data show us outstripped by other developed countries, in part because the policies and markets in those regions complement each other so well.

Here's an example from TIA's forthcoming 2008 Market Review and Forecast that shows just how successful a good technology policy can be: 

Wireless penetration passed 100 percent in Western Europe in 2005, but the market continued to expand, increasing 5.6 percent in 2006 and an additional 1.4 percent in 2007, bringing penetration to 107.9 percent. Except for Belgium and France, penetration exceeded 100 percent [everywhere] in Western Europe in 2007.  While that enormous growth may slow, we expect even further wireless penetration, fueled in large part by demand for next-generation broadband services.

Impressive. Because European policy, by and large, has given consumers free reign over their handset decisions, consumers there now average more than one active handset per person. That means the market in Europe provides a clear range of choice for value-added services, price points and designs.

As we move into the new year, there are important questions to ask. Is the United States setting policy that gives its consumers a chance to have the same more-than-universal wireless coverage and ubiquitous broadband access as Europe?  Are our elected officials and high-profile candidates taking positions on the issues to facilitate that kind of deployment? 

With the right answers to those questions we can make this year and the next few the start of an access revolution in America. The industry is growing, and the standards and technology on display at the big shows this month demonstrate that potential is endless. But the right policies have to be in place to capitalize on this unique technological moment in time.

Thank you,
Grant Seiffert
President
TIA