WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) National Broadband Plan:

"The deployment of high-speed, broadband infrastructure from coast to coast will fuel the development of millions of new jobs here at home and global competitiveness for our nation. Furthermore, affordable access to the Internet and other broadband services will also provide innovative solutions to address national priorities such as health care, education, energy independence, and public safety.  That is why the Recovery Act made a strategic investment of $7.2 billion in our nation's broadband infrastructure and charged the Federal Communications Commission with developing a National Broadband Plan.

"Today's release of a National Broadband Plan embraces the goal of universal, affordable broadband access across a variety of platforms, and provides Congress with an opportunity to work with the FCC to make this goal a reality.  Broadband must be deployed in a way that bridges the digital divide – ensuring that every American has access to affordable and robust broadband Internet service and the economic opportunities it creates.  

"Just as railroads and highways did in the past, broadband will dramatically increase the productivity and efficiency of our economy in the future and bring more Americans into an online global community and marketplace."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House