The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) is an independent, non-partisan consumer advocacy group that champions freedom, innovation and abundance in everyday life. The Consumer Choice Center’s core beliefs center around choice, evidence and access.

When it comes to policy, CCC monitors trends in consumer regulation and engages with policymakers and regulators to warn how respective regulations can harm the choice of consumers, rather than advance more abundance of consumer goods. The Consumer Choice Center’s main policy areas include Fit for Growth, Lifestyle Choice and Tech Innovation.

Research is also a central focus of CCC. Their research centers on issues designed to advance consumer choice, support innovation and promote open, competitive markets around the world. CCC actively works with tens of thousands of consumers and partner organizations across North America, Europe, South American, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and more.

“At CCC, we believe that an abundance of consumer goods benefits economies, societies and individuals,” says Consumer Choice Center’s Managing Director Fred Roeder. “This is why our involvement with the Connect Everyone Coalition (CEC) is a natural fit. CEC’s aim to educate the public and policymakers on the importance of using every tool in our connectivity toolbox, including low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, highlights the need for innovation and access to more connectivity options.

LEO satellite broadband is one tool that can advance connectivity and help bridge the digital divide. This technology is a strong option suited for connecting rural communities, providing alternatives to terrestrial broadband for neighborhoods located in hard-to-reach terrain and deploying resilient solutions during natural disasters and critical emergencies.

“The Consumer Choice Center illustrates the meaningful role open and competitive markets play in supporting access to the abundant and innovative solutions available for connecting everyone, everywhere,” says CEC Executive Director Richard Cullen. “LEO satellites are one way tool we can use to help bridge the digital divide and connect people with the technology they need to live, work and communicate better.” 

DID YOU KNOW?

As the International Center for Law & Economics found, in order to address the persistent obstacles to broadband deployment, proactive policy must employ the full range of available solutions. This means employing traditional solutions as well as innovative solutions, including the deployment of LEO satellite technology.

A technology-neutral approach to bridging the digital divide is important because it prioritizes access to reliable connectivity. Rather than forcing a “one-size-fits-all” approach, a technology-neutral approach allows for the freedom of consumer choice. It unlocks options, bolsters efficiency and cost-effectiveness and aims to meet the needs of communities, regions and hard-to-areas in the various manners best-suited to them.

Having a technology-neutral approach and access to every tool in the connectivity toolbox also increases market competition. In turn, more options and expanded access drive down consumer prices and improve quality. When advocates and policymakers make decisions with consumer choice in mind, they support space-based technologies that are better able to access the tools consumers need to benefit from fast, affordable broadband.