[IP] United States of Broadband Kevin is chairman of the FCC
An "interesting read" of the SC ruling etc djf
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: July 7, 2005 7:53:49 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] United States of Broadband
Reply-To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
July 7, 2005
COMMENTARY
United States of Broadband
By KEVIN J. MARTIN
July 7, 2005; Page A12
Broadband access is essential to an expanding Internet-based
information economy. Creating a policy environment that speeds the
deployment of broadband throughout the U.S. is my highest priority as
the new chairman of the FCC.
We recently received two pieces of encouraging news on the spread of
broadband. First, the Supreme Court affirmed the FCC's decision to
refrain from regulating cable companies' provision of broadband
services. This was an important victory for broadband providers and
consumers. Cable companies will continue to have incentives to invest
in broadband networks without fear of having to provide their rivals
access at unfair discounts. The decision also paves the way for the
FCC to place telephone companies on equal footing with cable
providers. We can now move forward and remove the legacy regulation
that reduces telephone companies' incentives to provide broadband.
Second, today, the FCC will release its most recent broadband
deployment report. The dramatic growth in broadband services depicted
in this report proves that we are well on our way to accomplishing
the president's goal of universal, affordable access to broadband by
2007.
The report contains two key findings. First, the U.S. leads the world
in the total number of broadband connections with 38 million
subscribers. And we are signing up new subscribers at an incredible
rate. In 2004, broadband subscribership increased by 34%, with a 45%
increase in DSL subscribership, and a 30% increase in subscribership
to cable modem. Second, broadband platforms are engaged in fierce
competition. In addition to telephone and cable providers, broadband
access is increasingly being delivered to consumers via satellite,
wireless, and fiber or powerline providers. In 2004, satellite and
wireless connections to the Internet increased by 50% and fiber or
powerline connections by 16%. This competition is leading to
broadband providers offering customers faster and faster connections
at lower and lower prices.
Most Americans today can choose between several competing broadband
service providers and service packages. Telephone companies, wireless
carriers, cable TV service providers and satellite providers are
aggressively getting into the broadband business. New technology
platforms are also growing. Increasingly, users of "Wi-Fi" technology
can get high-speed Internet connections at "hot spots" located at
coffee shops, hotels, airports, city parks, streets, and squares.
These proliferating service providers are increasingly competing with
each other, and that holds down prices, increases consumer choice,
and creates a vast new array of services.
Although last December's report by the OECD ranks the U.S. 12th with
respect to broadband subscribership per 100 inhabitants, there is
more to the story: broadband growth in the U.S. is exceptional and
leads the world. Unfortunately, our OECD ranking does not match the
reality. For example, in terms of size, the U.S. has more than twice
the population of the other countries ahead of it on the OECD list.
And, no other country has as many urban areas or as many remote and
widely-dispersed rural areas spanning huge distances.
If you compare the broadband penetration rates of some "leading"
countries with comparable U.S. states with similar population
density, you see similar penetration rates. For example, Japan, which
ranks 8th in the OECD report has a population density of 350
inhabitants per square kilometer and has 15 broadband subscribers per
100 inhabitants. These numbers are very similar to Massachusetts
which has a population density of 317 inhabitants per square
kilometer and 18 broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
Although we have seen billions of dollars of new investment in
broadband networks, there is still more that the government must do
to spur broadband deployment. We need to place all broadband
providers on equal footing so that they can fairly compete in the
marketplace. This means that we must treat all such providers in the
same manner -- free of undue regulation that can stifle
infrastructure investment. This does not mean, however, that the
government should have no role in the broadband market. To the
contrary, we must be vigilant in ensuring that public safety, law
enforcement and consumer protection needs continue to be met.
Now that the Supreme Court has provided much-needed clarity, the ball
is in the FCC's court. I welcome the opportunity to address the
remaining obstacles in the path to universal, affordable broadband
access to ensure that all Americans are empowered for success in
tomorrow's economy.
Mr. Martin is chairman of the FCC.
URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112070076371879188,00.html
Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>
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