The broadband plan recognizes the need for affordable broadband in several ways, including a proposal to build a nationwide free or low-cost wireless broadband network, she said. The plan seems to lay most of the responsibility for affordability on the private broadband market, she said.

"More competition and innovation are sorely needed -- they should be encouraged," she said. "But I think that over-reliance on the market has left us with expensive broadband in comparison with other nations."