APRIL 6, 2010 -- Arguing against the conventional wisdom that America lags in wireless and broadband, Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon's chairman and CEO, said that the country stacks up well in today's global market in terms of choice, usage, and quality of broadband networks.

Seidenberg answered questions during a session at the Council on Foreign Relations, and in an advance statement he observed that "the center of gravity when it comes to innovation has shifted decisively to the U.S." He expressed optimism about America's capacity to lead the next era of global, Internet-driven economic growth and development.

Seidenberg said that "the smart phone revolution" is already centered in the U.S., and that America's communications companies are deploying "game-changing" fiber networks and 4G LTE (fourth-generation, Long Term Evolution) wireless networks that "will leapfrog the world in wireless." He added that the vast majority of Americans have access to two or more broadband networks, and that the U.S. already has higher broadband penetration and wireless data usage than Europe as a whole.

"These technologies are at the heart of American competitiveness and global economic progress," Seidenberg said.

He noted that LTE is "rapidly becoming a global standard," and it is a technology that "will certainly be the most economical way to drive broadband to underserved populations, both here and abroad."

"It's because of the power of our values that I'm optimistic about America's capacity to lead the next era of Internet-driven growth," Seidenberg said. "I look forward to continuing to build the platforms and deliver the innovations that will create a competitive, growing America."