Read Online American Dreams by Marco Rubio - Free Book Online

threats to Internet freedom—including the uncertainty surrounding the Obama administration’s announcement that the United States is relinquishing its role in administering Internet domain names—require more action. The United States must declare unambiguously that the current multi-stakeholder, decentralized model of Internet governance is the official policy of our country. Not only that, but we must prevent the transfer of the administration of domain names to a foreign government or governmental agency.
    The corollary to preserving the freedom to innovate using the Internet is, of course, being able to exercise that freedom. And here, wireless spectrum—the radio waves that allow commerce, as well as cat videos, to be transmitted on the Internet—is essential. With a growing amount of Web traffic now being conducted on wireless devices, spectrum is among our most valuable national resources today.
    But it is also a finite resource. Wireless spectrum is the interstate highway system of the digital world. It is the road we use to “commute” online, and the highway is getting mighty crowded and increasingly subject to traffic jams. As more people come online, the traffic is only going to get worse.
    Thankfully, there is a solution. Today the federal government “owns” what some estimate is almost two thirds of the most valuable and sought-after wireless spectrum. In typical fashion, government being government, the agencies involved are reluctant to share just how much spectrum they have or whether they are using it efficiently. Whatever the exact numbers are, it is unacceptable that sixty federal agencies control more spectrum than is available to a nation in which the number of mobile phone subscriptions is higher than the number of people.
    To fix this, I have introduced legislation that reallocates spectrum used by the federal government to be used by commercial wireless services. The taxpayers will win because the spectrum auctions will raise money for the Treasury. The government will win because it will have its spectrum needs protected and met more efficiently. And the American people will win when our most precious natural resource is put to better use to grow our economy. The resulting innovation will create thousands of jobs.

    Outside of cyberspace, creating new markets for American products is done the old-fashioned way, through carefully crafted trade deals with other nations. The emergence of a global middle class has created more potential customers than ever for our products and services, yet our trade barriers and domestic restrictions keep too many American businesses out of these emerging international markets.
    First and foremost, we need trade policies that make it easier for our products to reach a global network of consumers. When I talk to Americans about expanding trade, I often hear from people who believe that free trade is a destroyer of American jobs. After years of opening up our markets to trade and investment from others but not getting reciprocal access from countries like China, for example, I understand people’s wariness about deals that shortchange American companies.
    Trade deals that are truly two-way streets, however—deals in which access to markets is fair and reciprocal—can be net job creators for Americans. Take the example of my cell phone. Embossed on the back of it are the words “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.” But when all these phones assembled in China are sent here, they have to be off-loaded in American ports. Those are American jobs. Then they have to be transported to distribution centers—more American jobs. Then they have to be transported to stores, where they’re sold—more jobs—at a lower price. Those savings are now available to be spent elsewhere, helping to create still more jobs.
    Forgive the Econ 101 lecture, but it’s an important point. Carefully crafted