• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, December 3, 2008

The influential advocacy group Free Press has launched a new campaign aimed at improving the state of broadband access in the U.S.

The group's sweeping agenda includes ensuring that Internet service providers adhere to principles of net neutrality by treating all lawful content and applications equally, increasing competition among Internet service providers and boosting broadband penetration rates.

As part of its initiative, Free Press took out an ad that ran Tuesday in the classified sections of The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Politico and The Hill. The ad, in the form of a job posting, reads: "Help Wanted: Chairman, Federal Communications Commission" and goes on to detail requirements, such as "a strong commitment to protecting the open Internet, ensuring fast and affordable Internet access for all Americans, and diversifying media ownership."

Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, said the effort is part of the group's ongoing push for better Web service. "What the public wants--not just Free Press--is universal, fast, neutral, affordable Internet service," he said. "Today's 'job announcement,' in quotes, was really a reminder to the White House that the public is paying attention."

Silver added that the effort will ultimately require a broad telecom bill championing net neutrality and broadband access. Free Press also issued a 12-page policy document outlining its priorities for the upcoming administration.

The current, Republican-dominated FCC has supported some of the Free Press's agenda. The agency recently voted to allow the use of white spaces, or airwaves between television channels, for wireless broadband. It also sanctioned Comcast for violating net neutrality principles by slowing traffic to peer-to-peer sites.

Free Press hailed that ruling--which was issued in response to a complaint filed by the organization--but still wants to see new legislation enshrining neutrality principles in law. "Leadership on this issue will settle the question of the future of the open Internet, ending several years of rancorous fighting that pit consumer advocates and tech companies against network owners," Free Press said in its policy statement.

Free Press also called on regulators to aggressively promote high-speed Web access. "To begin, the FCC should redefine 'broadband' starting with a standard of at least 5 megabits in both directions and evolving as new technologies emerge," the group urges.

Free Press is not the only group hoping to see improved Web service. In a separate initiative, a consortium including Google, Public Knowledge and AT&T called on president-elect Barack Obama to develop a strategy to improve the state of broadband. "Too many Americans still do not have access to affordable broadband or lack the equipment or knowledge to use it effectively," the group said in a two-page call to action issued Tuesday. "If the United States is to remain a leader in the global economy, our broadband networks must also be robust enough to enable our people, businesses, and public and private institutions to take full advantage of emerging and future bandwidth-intensive and quality-sensitive applications."