NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATES

Resolution No. 2008-01

AUTHORIZING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATES (“NASUCA”) TO SUPPORT THE ENACTMENT OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL BROADBAND POLICY AND TO ENSURE THAT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR CONSUMERS OF BROADBAND SERVICES.

WHEREAS, the United States of America does not have a formal national broadband policy.

WHEREAS, by many accounts, the United States’ international ranking in broadband penetration is far behind other industrialized nations.

WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC’s”) current definition of high speed broadband as 200 kilobytes per second (“kbps”) needs to be altered to accurately reflect the need for commonly-used bandwidth-intensive services and applications.

WHEREAS, a ubiquitous national broadband network can deliver economic and societal benefits to the United States including adding to the nation’s economy, improving distance learning, empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses to reach global markets, enhancing business innovation, improving the delivery of health care and reduce health care costs, improving the lives of people with disabilities, improving energy conservation efforts, improving public safety, and enhancing the delivery of entertainment and gaming services.

WHEREAS, because consumers will increasingly rely on broadband services, consumer protections laws must be established and enforced by state agencies.

WHEREAS, the Federal Universal Service Fund needs to be revised to support more ubiquitous and affordable broadband deployment.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that NASUCA encourages Congress to enact legislation to establish a national broadband policy that includes consumer protections to be enforced by state agencies and supports ubiquitous broadband deployment, including the use of federal universal service funds.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NASUCA Telecommunications Committee and Consumer Protection Committee, with the approval of the Executive Committee of NASUCA, are authorized to take all steps consistent with this Resolution in order to secure its implementation.

ADOPTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP

JUNE 24, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY, IDAHO