Fulfilling his commitment to digitally connect California's cities to each other and the world, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order today to clear the government red tape for building broadband networks, ensure all government agencies are using the best technologies to serve the people and create a broadband task force that lets experts from government and business work together to identify and eliminate obstacles to making broadband internet access ubiquitous in the state.

"California is home to the greatest technology entrepreneurs. Let's show the world what we can do," said Schwarzenegger at a Pediatric Telehealth Colloquium in San Francisco, where a doctor examined an 11-year old leukemia patient by video about 100 miles away in Sacramento. "If we want to stay number one in technology, we need action. In countries like Japan and South Korea, the people have access to great technologies at lower costs than anywhere in America. We can do that. Michigan has one of the largest wireless broadband networks in the country. We can do that. That's why I'm signing an executive order to help make California a leader in the telecommunications revolution."

Telemedicine is just one of the exciting possibilities that expanding broadband access would bring to the state.

Highlights of the executive order include:

• Establishing a broadband task force to recommend additional steps the Governor can take to promote broadband access and usage
• Designating one agency -- Business, Transportation & Housing (BT&H) -- as lead coordinator for implementing the state's broadband policy, to help ensure cohesion, speed and efficiency
• Directing BT&H to create a database linking private broadband companies with state transportation agencies, permitting companies to better coordinate fiber optic installation, leading to more consumer choice and efficient pricing
• Establishing a pricing policy for private companies paying for "right-of- way" access to state roads. Previously, charges to lay fiber varied widely -- the order sets pricing based on actual costs incurred by the state
• Calling for streamlined, expedited rights-of-way permitting procedures to accelerate broadband deployment
• Directing BT&H to collect and analyze current broadband information so the state can accurately map existing resources
• Directing the Department of General Services to make wireless Internet access available in State buildings and increase video streaming to deliver public meetings, training materials and other state resources online
• Directing state agencies to enable VOIP technologies for business and government use, and include broadband conduit in their infrastructure planning

After his speech to the colloquium, Schwarzenegger joined Silicon Valley CEOs and executives to discuss the economic development that increased broadband adoption would spur.

"Broadband will help build California so we can grow our economy by competing in the global marketplace," said Schwarzenegger. "California must remain competitive so we continue to attract the best, brightest and most creative workforce in the world."

KW