First, we must have expanded competition to increase broadband access. The current state of ownership by a handful of big companies not only limits who gets broadband, but where broadband is most likely to be (urban centers). Small independent ISPs should not be driven out of this market because of excessive fees charged by big companies to use existing lines.

Second and equally important is net neutrality. When we have real competition to Internet access we will disabuse big companies of the notion that they have to police the content that comes through the net space. Until then, however, Congress and the FCC need to pass and enforce net neutrality policies/agreements. We cannot limit free speech by allowing these policing practices to continue.

Third, we need to give local communities and municipalities the power and resources necessary to make Wi-Fi a reality. More than this, we need to provide and/or increase resources to rural areas so that they can realize the potential of Internet access for businesses, healthcare, schools, and residents. If they can't get broadband (which in itself is outrageous), we need to provide Wi-Fi.

Fourth, we need to break up the ownership monopolization of media in general. Ownership of media -- Internet, airwaves, satellite, radio, TV -- needs to be expanded if we are to maintain true freedom of the press and expression in this country. When corporate profit and interests trump news and information, everybody loses except the corporations. This seems such a simple concept yet few people seem to object to concentrated ownership of our media.

Fifth, Congress needs to create and pass policies regarding public interest and information media access and use. We have lost much of our community information broadcasting, due in large part to the concetration of media ownership among a handful of corporations. Communities and their residents thrive when public interest broadcasting thrives.

There is obviously much to be done, but we are a talented, creative, can-do country. Our current administration -- Bush et al -- is increasingly and alarmingly irrelevant in the country and the world. We can and should develop partnerships with Congress, business, community, education, and technology leaders to truly bring the information superhighway to life and bring us into the 21st century!