The Alliance for Public Technology Initiates "Broadband Changed My Life" Campaign

Director Appointed to Head Campaign for National Policy to Stimulate Broadband Deployment and Demand

Washington, D.C., June 21, 2007 – The Alliance for Public Technology (APT) announced today that Joy Howell has been appointed Campaign Director for a new campaign that APT is launching to foster universal access to high-speed networks and services that are affordable and usable by all Americans. 

The campaign is based on APT's report Achieving Universal Broadband: Polices for Stimulating Deployment and Demand that was released earlier this year (available at http://www.apt.org/publications/reports-studies/Final-Report-Feb2007.pdf). The APT report identifies the problems associated with the inadequate level of broadband deployment and adoption in the United States, examines the deficiencies in current policies and makes the following recommendations:

• Establish clear national goals for broadband deployment.
• Require accurate reporting of broadband deployment, speeds and prices.
• Continue to foster private investment and marketplace competition.    
• Require Universal Service Fund recipients to offer broadband services.
• Provide tax incentives, low interest loans, and grants for Broadband Deployment.   
• Create an Office of Broadband within the Federal Government.
• Utilize non-traditional, non-telecommunications programs more effectively.

"I am excited about working with APT and its diverse membership to advance this campaign," said Howell. "High speed access is a necessity, not a luxury, in today's world.  Universal broadband service would contribute significantly to the provision of better health care, greater educational opportunity, independent living, and small business competitiveness."

"The debate over broadband often focuses on statistics while the profound impact of broadband on consumers is lost in the discussion. APT's goal is to promote expansion of broadband by personalizing the debate and highlighting the enormous impact high speed Internet access has on real people," she said.

Howell is an experienced professional with an outstanding track record of 25 years in public policy administration and development.  She directed the Office of Public Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission under Chairman William Kennard and served on his senior management team.  She also served as communications director for a U.S. senator and has worked in local government as well. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Redlands.  In addition, she has been an instructor and guest lecturer at the Kennedy School at Harvard, George Washington University and the University of Texas.

"Joy's impressive qualifications and her enthusiastic commitment to our goals will help ensure the success of the campaign," said Kenneth Peres, APT President and Research Economist at the Communications Workers of America. "We look forward to working with her to take the next steps to achieve our goal of universal access to affordable high speed Internet service."  

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About APT
The Alliance for Public Technology is a nonprofit membership organization based in Washington, D.C., which was founded in 1989 to foster public policies that ensure access to advanced telecommunications technologies for all Americans.