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Issues:
TechNet
Broadband Principles (January 15, 2002)
Cisco Broadband Primer:
What is Broadband? (January 15, 2002)
The deployment of broadband digital networks
is the key to enabling new, advanced Internet applications
for consumers and businesses globally. High-speed Internet
access will change the way we work, live, play, and learn.
Greater bandwidth permits exciting new information services
for education, e-commerce, government and communications
by increasing the amount of information that can be transmitted
and greatly reducing download times.
Deployment of broadband has been slowed by lack of competition
among traditional telecom companies and new entrants. The
need for broadband deployment raises several important policy
issues including:
- Regulated Open Access vs. Free Market Access -- Content
providers want guaranteed access to high-speed data networks
at wholesale prices. Others counter that mandatory open
access requirements reduce investment incentives and delay
broadband deployment.
- Universal Service / Digital Divide - Diverse groups
want to ensure broadband networks are available to all
Americans regardless of economic status or geographic
location.
- Regulatory Parity - Incumbent network providers want
regulators to treat all broadband technologies equally,
regardless of whether delivered via telephone, cable,
wireless or satellite. Non-incumbent network providers
urge regulatory forbearance on new entrants to promote
competition and speed broadband deployment.
Impact:
Decisions made by courts and regulators at the local, state
and federal levels will determine:
- The speed of new service deployment
- competitive choices available to consumers, and
- levels of investments made in new technologies.
Precedents established in this debate may determine whether
future Internet policy is decided by the marketplace or
by government.
Position:
Broadband policies should promote competition, investment
and innovation through deregulation of existing technology
and non-regulation of new technologies.
- Competitive markets benefit consumers and stimulate
investment, leading to lower prices, higher quality and
greater choices for consumers. Broadband policies should
promote competition.
- Investment sparks rapid innovation, improvement and
economic efficiency in products and services. Broadband
policies should encourage investment.
- Regulations stifle competition and investment, so regulatory
tools should be used sparingly. Old World rules to govern
monopolies (e.g. local phone providers) should not be
reflexively imposed on competitive New World industries
(e.g. data access providers).
Background:
Broadband refers to the capacity to deliver high speed Internet
access. "Broader" lines carry more information
faster. Broadband Internet access is possible over a variety
of platforms (networks) including:
- Cable modems
- Digital Subscriber telephone lines (DSL)
- Wireless
- Satellite
- Fiber optics to the home
- Long Reach Ethernet (LRE)
Companies have invested billions in new fiber optics, wireless
equipment, hardware and software to increase their capacity
to deliver broadband. The resulting high-speed networks
will radically expand the possibilities for using the Internet
for education, telemedicine, entertainment and e-commerce.
New features allowed by broadband networks include:
- Real time video and audio
- Voice over IP
- Video conferencing
- Rapid data downloads - no waiting
Broadband Internet connections can remain on at all times
(always on) - permitting instantaneous access to information.
And increased bandwidth reduces time for data downloads
from minutes to seconds (high speed) - eliminating consumers'
greatest frustration with the Internet.
Status:
STATE OF DEPLOYMENT: Presently, cable, telephone, wireless
and satellite companies are working to deploy broadband-capable
networks throughout the U.S. and globally. Network providers
are investing billions to upgrade their infrastructures
and increase their bandwidth capacity. Similarly, Internet
Service Providers across the country are offering high-speed
access over cable, DSL and wireless.
CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT: Even
as cable, DSL and wireless companies roll out competing
broadband products and networks, many are calling for the
government to step in to speed or manage deployment. Some
business and civic leaders have called for mandatory open
access - forcing all broadband providers to share their
facilities with competitors at rates approved or reviewed
by government-- while others urge the government to let
the competitive markets work and remove mandatory open access
requirements from currently-regulated companies.
Likewise, many have called for government intervention
to prevent uneven rollout of broadband networks. Rural representatives
want to encourage or require companies to rapidly deploy
broadband networks to rural areas, while other leaders demand
rules to ensure poorer areas receive the same access to
broadband networks as more affluent neighborhoods.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ACTIONS: The FCC continues
to consider questions relating to the deployment of advanced
services and high speed networks. To date, the Commission
has steadfastly refused to increase regulations on advanced
services.
Useful Links:
FCC
CHAIRMAN MICHAEL K. POWELL OUTLINES BROADBAND AGENDA
(October 2001)
REMARKS
OF MICHAEL K. POWELL, CHAIRMAN, FCC, AT THE NATIONAL SUMMIT
ON BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT (October 2001)
FCC
COMMISSIONER KEVIN MARTIN SPEECH ON BROADBAND (October
2001)
NTIA
CHIEF NANCY VICTORY SPEECH ON BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT (October
2001)
BRUCE
P. MEHLMAN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TECHNOLOGY POLICY, UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - "BUILDING OUR BROADBAND
FUTURE " (October 2001)
MCKINSEY
STUDY: WHAT DO BROADBAND CONSUMERS WANT? (October 2001)
WASHTECH.COM
SPECIAL REPORT: THE BROADBAND DEBATE (2001)
FCC
STUDY: HIGH-SPEED INTERNET USE UP (August 2001)
FCC Broadband
Internet Access Resource Guide
"
Broadband Today ," FCC Staff Report (Oct. 1999)
"The FCC and the
Unregulation of the Internet ," FCC Office of
Plans & Policy Working Paper (July 1999)
OpenNet Coalition
iAdvance Coalition
Competitive
Broadband Coalition
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