"Unfortunately, the lack of a clear problem doesn't stop some advocates from coming up with a solution.'" (Broadband Deployment and the Digital Divide, A Primer; CATO Institute Study; August 7, 2001)

 "The deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans is reasonable and timely at this time.  Providers are rapidly building the infrastructure for two major types of advanced services — DSL services and cable-based services." (FCC's Second Report on Deployment of Advanced Services; Issued August 2000)

  "The MEDC's concern that Michigan is falling behind in the development of its high-speed telecommunications infrastructure is overstated. Michigan ranks as high in broadband access as its population would dictate that it should. The best possible course of action is for state policymakers to step aside and let free people decide how they wish to access the Internet." (Mackinac Center for Public Policy, November 2, 2001)

"The vast majority of Americans will soon have access to broadband.  This is a natural consequence of new technology becoming increasingly inexpensive to produce and distribute." (Broadband Deployment and the Digital Divide, A Primer; CATO Institute Study; August 7, 2001)

 "By some measures, we have fairly wide deployment of broadband service.  According to J.P. Morgan, 73% of households have cable modem service available, and 45% of households have access to DSL.  Combined, broadband availability is estimated to be this year almost 85%.  The intriguing statistic is that though this many households have availability, only 12% of these households have chosen to subscribe." (FCC Chairman Michael Powell in a speech to the National Summit on Broadband Deployment; October 25, 2001)

 "Of those not online, most see little benefit in the Internet and consider it a dangerous thing.  In short, this is a generational divide.  For another generation or so, no one should expect the market for Internet access to approach the nearly 100 percent penetration rate that is seen with electricity, or even the quite high rate for telephones." (Broadband Deployment and the Digital Divide, A Primer; CATO Institute Study; August 7, 2001)

 "Government is a notoriously bad investor.  It tends to buy high and sell low when it comes to predicting technology winners and losers." (FCC Chairman Michael Powell in a speech to the National Summit on Broadband Deployment; October 25, 2001)

"The only states to have more (broadband) providers in Michigan are, not coincidentally, those with larger populations needing more service. The marketplace is simply responding in a reasonable way to different levels of demand in different areas. The MEDC wants to disrupt that process." (Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Nov. 2, 2001)

"Government sometimes, resting on hubris I suppose, has a tendency to have inflated confidence in its ability to make, force or demand a result against the will of a market participant.  The government sometimes acts like an indignant customer demanding to be served, but who has no intention of paying." (FCC Chairman Michael Powell in a speech to the National Summit on Broadband Deployment; October 25, 2001)

"When someone advocates regulatory regimes for broadband that look like, smell like, feel like common carriage, scream at them!  They will almost always suggest it is just a "light touch."  Demand to see the size of the hand that is going to lay its finger on the market.  Insist on knowing where it all stops.  Require they explain who gets to make the key decisions — if it is enlightened regulators, rather than consumers and producers, walk out of the meeting." (FCC Chairman Michael Powell in a speech to the National Summit on Broadband Deployment; October 25, 2001)