WASHINGTON, DC—Future of Music Coalition (FMC) recognizes the FCC’s National Broadband Plan as an important first step in bringing this crucial technology service to more Americans. FMC’s Michael Bracy commented on the initiative:

“Bringing broadband to more people is clearly important in terms of jobs and the ability for Americans to connect to a range of information and knowledge. It’s also a key to a functional 21st-century music ecosystem built on access to a legitimate digital marketplace where artists are compensated and fans can discover a wide range of music through legal, licensed services.

“Currently, there are wide swaths of the public who are unable to participate in the amazing array of legal music online. And there’s absolutely no reason why a musician or other creative person should have to leave their community in order to build their careers using the internet as a tool.

“The National Broadband Plan will go a long way towards making this essential technology available to more Americans, but we need to remember that education is a big part of adoption. This is especially important to the next generation of musicians and entrepreneurs who will be tasked with creating sustainable structures for the industry. In order to design the future of music, our children need to be not only familiar with the technology, but also invested in the process of creating and nurturing art.

“We’re also pleased to see that the FCC is taking into consideration new uses of spectrum that will hopefully bring even more opportunities for creators and more ways for fans to connect to music. For too long, the broadband marketplace has been defined by a duopoly; the National Broadband Plan will hopefully be a turning point in terms of access for consumers and accountability for providers. Expanding broadband service presents a clear benefit for musicians, and a clear benefit to fans, and we applaud the FCC’s efforts to achieve these goals.”