That Section directs us to determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans on a reasonable and timely basis and, if not, to take immediate action to accelerate such deployment. The data compiled for this second Section 706 Report identify some promising trends. For most of the country, as consumer appetite for bandwidth grows, the number of residential subscribers to advanced services is increasing dramatically. Meaningful access to broadband facilities may well be the lifeblood of these communities, spelling the difference between economic revitalization and stagnation.
Advanced services enable businesses to serve the globe from even the most remote locations.
As businesses thrive in these communities, young people can remain in their home towns rather than be forced to migrate to the cities for their economic well-being. In these early stages of deployment, we have a unique opportunity to prevent a crack from becoming a chasm. Already, we are taking steps to accelerate the deployment of advanced services. Not only can a high-speed Internet connection to a school or library be a tremendous resource for the whole community, but the facilities can serve as the foundation for broader deployment throughout the area. We should examine carefully how we can leverage this extremely successful resource.