 I believe telecommunications services and communications technologies hold the power to erase geographic and socioeconomic barriers in our nation. The Internet is revolutionizing the way Americans work, learn, and entertain themselves, and our nation's telecommunications policy must reflect the growing importance of connectivity in an increasingly online world. To this end, I am pursuing a pro-competitive, deregulatory framework for our nation's telecom sector, which will spur the deployment of new services and technologies in the marketplace. I am also dedicated to our nation's longstanding commitment to provide universal access to affordable telecommunications services so no American is left behind as we venture into the information age.
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In rural communities across the nation, an entire segment of our population does not have the opportunity to access powerful broadband communications services representing the high-speed, high-capacity on-ramps to the information super highway. 
Over the past few years the large media companies have persistently sought out new laws and regulations that would mandate DRM in the marketplace, denying consumers and the educational community the use of media products as has been customarily and legally permitted. 
Our nation's wireless industry is fast approaching a crossroads where it will transition from voice and text messaging services to a marriage of wireless mobility with the power of the Internet and broadband Internet access.