In the history of our nation, economic downturns have typically been followed by forces of innovation that result in accompanying upturns. The forces for economic opportunity and turnaround have ranged from innovations in the 19th century’s Industrial Revolution to the 20th century’s interstate highway system — and most recently, the World Wide Web.

Today, President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act— and the broadband economic stimulus plan within it — could hold the key for America to move toward a more robust, more pervasive broadband platform — the type of infrastructure that drives new ideas and tomorrow’s economic success stories.

Our European and Asian counterparts have been investing in broadband robust enough to support new products and services, creating a test bed for innovation. This strategy is fostering and attracting companies seeking the 21st century infrastructure lacking in the United States.

An indication the United States may no longer be the home for innovation is the continuing decline in domestic patent recipients. In 2008, that number dipped below half (49 percent) of all domestic patents for the first time ever, meaning international companies actually received approval for more patents in our country than our own U. S. companies did. Without extensive analysis evaluating quantity versus quality, this number may not be so alarming. But other patent filings seem to suggest that America no longer has a dominant position in the world of new ideas.

Looking at the number of technology patents filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization, we can see how fast the United States is falling behind. From 2006-08, the growth rate of WIPO filings for many of the world’s innovators increased dramatically: Japan (8 percent), China (55 percent) and South Korea (33 percent) all meet or exceed the global patent filing increase rate of 8 percent. Meanwhile, with 0 percent growth in the same time frame, our nation’s position as an innovator is dwindling.

Our global competitors are capitalizing on the connection between patents, innovation and economic growth. An article from the business magazine Strategic Direction, titled “Tracking Technology Innovation Trends,” cites Japan specifically as a country that recognizes more than most the importance of innovation and patents. Strategic Direction reports “it seems that Japanese technologyfirms— which have a policy of making long-term investment in R&D [research and development] and protecting that investment through patenting — understand better than most that patents are increasingly becoming a vital way of maintaining competitive advantage.”

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry explains the importance of continuing to advance innovation and accompanying patents in times of economic duress. “Companies and countries which continue to invest in new products and innovation during times of economic recession will be those that will be best positioned to take advantage of the recovery, when it arrives.”

As a starting point, the United States needs to create the infrastructure that will promote growth through innovation and enable the testing required for new product and service development. Meanwhile, this same infrastructure provides the collaborative medium to work with counterparts from across town and across the country. Robust, high-speed broadband services have the potential to be our platform for innovation — driving patents and accompanying economic growth.

This is why the U. S. House of Representatives’ report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stated: “. . . over the long term, broadband deployment helps virtually every economic sector. For every dollar invested in broadband, the economy sees a tenfold return on that investment.”

Broadband is key to our nation remaining competitive. Our goals as a nation should reflect the spirit of innovation that has made and kept America great. We should aim high, with a goal of delivering gigabyte broadband service to every household and business and once again establishing America as a welcome home for innovation.

Imagine if we had made the mistake of building ordinary roads when, in the 1950s, true progress required an interstate highway system. We are at a similar juncture, which is why the time calls for the high ambition of gigabit speeds.

Doug Adams oversees public information efforts for the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, operated by Clevelandbased technology nonprofit OneCommunity, in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.