Faster Broadband Speeds - The View From the F.C.C. - NYTimes.com Re "Yanking Broadband From Slow Lane," by Eduardo Porter (Economic Scene, May 8): It's vital that we keep pushing for faster broadband speeds. Google Fiber is an important positive development and has been followed by a growing number of other high-speed broadband deployments, including expansions by AT&T, CenturyLink, and other companies and municipalities. Smart policies at all levels of government are needed to drive capital investment by new entrants and expansion by existing players. Over the past four years, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted significant policies to do so, including rules to lower broadband deployment costs. We've also modernized universal service programs from telephone to broadband, creating the Connect America Fund to invest $45 billion in our broadband infrastructure; eliminated outdated regulations that were discouraging network upgrades; and adopted open Internet rules and other policies to spur competition. We've seen significant progress in the United States over this period, including moving from 22nd to 8th globally in broadband speeds and from laggard to leader in mobile broadband. But in this fast-moving sector, challenges remain. The F.C.C. is exploring additional policies to lower deployment costs and has opposed state efforts to stop municipal broadband projects. Particularly in today's global economy, it's essential that the F.C.C. - revitalized and focused on broadband - continue to implement policies to unleash private investment and promote competition. JULIUS GENACHOWSKI Chairman Federal Communications Commission Washington, May 8, 2013