Carriers get unexpected ally for national broadband plan

A coalition of civil rights and minority groups has joined Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA and other wireless players in asking federal regulators to make wireless Internet be a key component of a new national broadband plan, and to give priority to minority communities and minority-owned businesses. Members of the coalition argued that the mobile Internet and cell phones could help communities that do not want to invest in potentially expensive, wired computers. The FCC is in the midst of tabulating comments on what the national broadband plan should look like. Article (sub. req.)