Broadband Access Bulletin #1

Between now and July 13, ISPs throughout the U.S. will have a golden opportunity voice their opinions and concerns about cable access before the Federal Communications Commission.

by Paul Schneider [June 21, 1999]

The past two weeks have been eventful ones for proponents of competitive Broadband Internet access. Within days of each other, a Federal judge ruled that the City of Portland and Multnomah County, Oregon could mandate competitive access for cable Broadband Internet, and the Federal Communications Commission initiated early action on a petition for ISP access to cable networks.

While the ripples of the Oregon case are spreading to other localities, the FCC will be taking public comments on a petition, filed June 3 by service provider Internet Ventures Inc. The petition asks the Commission to affirm that Internet service providers are entitled to leased cable access, pursuant to Section 612 of the Communications Act, as amended. The FCC will be accepting comments through July 13, 1999; replies to those comments are due by July 28.

Petitioner IVI is strongly encouraging all interested parties to participate and has established several Web pages with materials to help ISPs, other business and individuals who wish to draft a letter or a formal comment to the FCC.

IVI contends that for large numbers of ISPs the FCC's decision could mean the difference between thriving and just surviving. Confirmation by the Commission would, it believes, open the door to the emerging broadband Internet business for thousands of ISPs that are to all intents and purposes shut out of that market today.

Similarly, a positive response to the petition could give Web developers and others involved in the Internet economy a "jump start" to the future, as ISPs bring their traditional competitive spirit to the Broadband market. Nationwide, the online industry would be able to deploy new Broadband applications, attract new audiences, and break through the "last mile" bottleneck, all without waiting for cable to upgrade its plant.

A negative finding would leave cable broadband largely under the control of a relative handful of franchise owners.

One way or the other, FCC action on the petition very likely will affect who gets what access, and at what cost.

From recent developments, it seems clear that many segments of the Internet community believe that the promise of competitive access to broadband Internet is worth fighting for.

Click here for more information on how to get involved.
Click here to read comments about the IVI petition.

Paul Schneider is public relations counsel for Internet Ventures, Inc.