February 27, 2002 -- The Communications Workers of America urged the House of Representatives to support the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act, H.R. 1542, also known as the Tauzin-Dingell bill, because it may create new jobs, boost competition among companies supplying broadband network services and would bring the promise of this technology to communities throughout the country.

In a letter sent today to House members, CWA President Morton Bahr told lawmakers that the bill "would boost the high tech economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs as cable, telephone, and wireless companies compete to build out their broadband networks."

He also cited a just-released report by the Alliance for Public Technology, forwarded with his letter, that documents the social and economic benefits that result from an increased deployment of broadband capability.

The report, "Advanced Services, Enhanced Lives," emphasizes the power of broadband to transform people's lives by "improving health care, education, public services, independent living for people with disabilities and stimulating job growth, among other benefits," Bahr wrote.

The report documents the current state of broadband deployment as "a slow and uneven process" that prevents this very important technology from meeting the goal of universal service. Without action and assistance, "broadband deployment will continue to stagnate, costs for services will remain high and millions of Americans will be deprived of the opportunity to use advanced services," it stressed.

Bahr called H.R. 1542 an important step toward universal, affordable broadband networks. "I encourage you to vote for this essential legislation" so that our nation can deliver the promise of the Information Superhighway to all Americans, he said.

CWA represents more than 725,000 workers in communications and information services, media and publishing, health care, higher education and public service, the airline industry and other sectors.

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