U.S. Chamber Launches Broadband Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today launched a campaign with leading associations in banking, healthcare, transportation, and education in a push for a national broadband policy.

"Private investment in high-speed networks will generate high-paying jobs, provide new growth in economically struggling communities, and increase the efficiency and productivity of the nation's businesses in all sectors," said Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president. "We've just begun to tap into the benefits of broadband for our businesses, schools, hospitals and the overall economy and it is critically important to push ahead with technology investments."

The campaign was launched today with a letter from the Chamber and the National Rural Health Association urging Congress and the administration to make a national broadband strategy a priority and not let the U.S. fall behind as a technology and economic leader. Specifically, the letter also stressed how the benefits of broadband technologies are becoming a more widely-used method to treat American patients, particularly in rural areas.

"Broadband technologies can eliminate the distance barrier for rural patients by providing access to out-of-area physicians and health care resources," said Alan Morgan, vice president of government affairs and policy for the National Rural Health Association. "Broadband technology is an effective way to help health care providers reduce costs and provide better care for patients."

Members of the broadband coalition include the American Bankers Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and the National Multi Housing Council and others.

The campaign will continue throughout the next several months and will involve an education program to highlight the need for investment in broadband networks and applications and the benefits those investments will have on economic growth and our overall society.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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Fact Sheet: Broadband and Healthcare (PDF)