mobile broadbent was virtually unheard of in 2000. by the end of last year, an estimated 100 million americans subscribe to these technologies. we lead the world in 3g build out and adoption. we are home to more wireless companies than any other country. more than half of all americans have the choice of five wireless providers. economic activity has been nothing short of explosive. last year, american's lead the world by downloading over 1.1 billion applications on their mobile devices. the u.s. has one-third of the world market share of global applications but the market has grown over 500% since 2007. some researchers estimate that annual domestic application download will reach 7 billion by 2014. the internet is the environment that is growing and evolving faster than any individual company or government can measure. it operates any open and free marketplace where innovation and investment are thriving. some estimate that infrastructure exceeded $60 billion last year alone. any policy the government adopts should nurture and stren

mobile broadbent was virtually unheard of in 2000.y the end of last year, an estimated 100 million americans subscribe to these technologies. we lead the world in 3g build out and adoption. we are home to more wireless companies than any other country. more than half of all americans have the choice of five wireless providers. economic activity has been nothing short of explosive. last year, american's lead the world by downloading over 1.1 billion applications on their mobile devices. the u.s. has one-third of the world market share of global applications but the market has grown over 500% since 2007. some researchers estimate that annual domestic application download will reach 7 billion by 2014. the internet is the environment that is growing and evolving faster than any individual company or government can measure. it operates any open and free marketplace where innovation and investment are thriving. some estimate that infrastructure exceeded $60 billion last year alone. any policy the government adopts should nurture and strengt

it is time to overcome our broadbent complaisance it.ational broadband plan is critical to our national security. without this plan, we cannot compete. i believe it will to live for fiscal and economic benefits over time. i believe the plan is fiscally prudent and identifies opportunities for billions of dollars of spectrum auctions. i look forward to working with the members of the committee on the plan and on all ideas to unleash the power of broadband. thank you. >> thank you. commissioner copps. >> good morning.

mobile broadbent was virtually unheard of in 2000.the end of last year, an estimated 100 million americans subscribe to these technologies. we lead the world in 3g build out and adoption. we are home to more wireless companies than any other country. more than half of all americans have the choice of five wireless providers. economic activity has been nothing short of explosive. last year, american's lead the world by downloading over 1.1 billion applications on their mobile devices. the u.s. has one-third of the world market share of global applications but the market has grown over 500% since 2007. some researchers estimate that annual domestic application download will reach 7 billion by 2014. the internet is the environment that is growing and evolving faster than any individual company or government can measure. it operates any open and free marketplace where innovation and investment are thriving. some estimate that infrastructure exceeded $60 billion last year alone. any policy the government adopts should nurture and strengthe

i have read the health care bill, and there's nothing in there about broadbent.i hope you can solve that. thank you for being here. i appreciate it. >> the gentle lady is recognized for five minutes. >> in many districts, there are households who cannot afford broadband services. a recent survey found that 93 million americans do not subscribe to in-home broadband services in large part because of affordability barriers. the fact is that the high cost least many low-income families in urban and rural areas at a severe disadvantage in our economy. i introduced a broadband affordability act last year for universal broadband adoption. this bill will ensure that all americans will have access. i am -- i applaud you and the commissioners for having this central element of your plan. however important is it in your view for the economy and for the country to close the divide? >> said think it is essential. i appreciate your -- >> i think it is essential. i appreciate your leadership on this. today, job postings have moved on line. most jobs orequire on-line application

after the community use of broadband connections in schools funded by the program expands access to broadbent allows efficient use of resources funded by the program so that all, excuse mccaul without increasing the size of the universal service fund. schools now have the option to permit the general public to use the internet connections whenever school was not in session this allows adults to take the digital literacy courses and employed workers to seek online job search tools and citizens interested in using the internet based government services to benefit. and the rule healthcare order in extension where the water line competition bureau as recently extended a key deadline for pilot participants in the of rural health pilot program with a new deadline being june 30 of which would help to ensure the pilot projects and provide additional time for building out of networks that will benefit the ehealth over the entire country. as you know consumer tools have been recently launched including last week the fcc launching the beta version of a new set of consumer tools on the fcc.gov and broadb

about the complaints that we heard from the commission about small businesses that want to move on broadbent, but they are unsatisfied with the choices -- on broadband, but they are unsatisfied with the choices that they have. there are issues that require further work. thank you. i yield back with every time i have left. >> thank you. the gentleman from nebraska it is recognized for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. it has been asked before, but i have not ask it, as the old saying goes. i am going to ask it in terms of the over-the-air tv and the option of being able to give back or sell back the that part of the spectrum. the second half of that is -- if there are not enough station holders willing to give back some of their spectrum, we have heard that you will not just force it. does the fcc even have authority to force them to give back for have the authority to take back some of that spectrum? >> the authority we do not have is to structure an incentive option with respect to any band. we have the ability to ensure that any spectrum that is used that way, some of the proceeds

as its authority to promote the interests of consumers tomorrow americans, others in and around broadbent. today we are, not literally today, but right now we are arguing in court defending the position that title one gives us the authority we need to do the right things for american communities, american businesses, american consumers. we will continue to assert that position, and we will hope that we get a favorable decision from the court that is looking at it right now. until then our focus is on the issues that i mentioned. if the court does something that requires us to assess and consider issues we will do that. right now i think there is nothing more important that we can do than to make sure we move forward on a national broadband plan that drives forward u.s. global competitiveness on our communication infrastructure. >> i appreciate that. add just wanted, you know, i encourage. as i mentioned, i think that there is a real cost to have the regulation. we have to be so careful with, you know, this almost a miracle of investments in the internet is that we have seen in america and