Once again, the Bells are claiming to speak for all ISPs. Make sure the FCC hears you and your customers.

by Washington Bureau for ISP Advocacy (WBIA) [August 5, 2005]
Cynthia H. de Lorenzi Co-founder—Washington Bureau for ISP Advocacy—WBIA Frank Muto Co-founder—Washington Bureau for ISP Advocacy—WBIA Telecom Summit Ad Hoc Committee http://gigabytemarch.blog.com/

For all competitive service providers, or other businesses offering Internet related products and or services, and their customers.

We will soon see the FCC deregulate Open Access. What does this mean and what should you do?

While the answers are not clear on what the new terms and conditions for access (if any) will mean to thousands of ISP's we do know that this does not bode well for the future of our industry. While the argument on the Hill has been that this will create greater competition, any first grader who can count apples and oranges will recognize that when you take a bunch of them off the table there will be fewer to count and compete. It defies logic that the Bells have been able to sell this argument, but I suppose if you say it long and loud enough it mysteriously becomes a truth.

First, brace yourself, for it is going to be a rough and bumpy ride. Second, while it will not change the immediate outcome, it is contingent upon us to mobilize and send a message to the FCC that we are watching and are organizing our industry, business and consumers in opposition.

As soon as you read this message take a moment to send word to each of the FCC Commissioners about your concerns and the consequences to your business and that the ultimate impact of deregulation will be bad for America, small business, consumers and our economy. It would also be a good idea to copy your congressional representatives office when you send the message. You can find congressional contact information in the WBIA Legislative Action Center.

For your convenience we have provided the E-mail address for each of the FCC Commissioners and a sample letter which you are welcome to use in crafting your own message. Edit accordingly to give out to your customers.

For posting a letter (not comment) on the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System, do one post each of the following dockets: 04-29, 04-416, 04-440 and 04-405. Copy, paste and edit the below sample letter, edit to your liking and submit a PDF or Word .doc.

Make sure they know who you are and use company letter head. Create another for your customers and or have them sign off on a petition and list all those separately on the letters and ECFS uploaded lists.

Chairman Kevin Martin—Kevin.Martin@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael Copps—Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein—Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy—Kathleen.Abernathy@fcc.gov

Dear Chairman or Commissioner _________;

We are an ISP, CLEC, (or whatever) in City_______, State_____ and serve #'s______ of customers. Deregulation will harm our business and the ability to provide competitive services to our customers. Consumers need and deserve the choice they enjoy today and deregulation will take away their right to choose providers and services.

President Bush signed Executive Order 13272 on August 13, 2002 requiring federal agencies to implement policies protecting small entities when writing new rules and regulations. President Bush' Small Business Agenda states that every new business starts with an idea for a better product or process, which has been the driving force of Internet innovation we enjoy today.

These ideas become reality only when confident entrepreneurs are willing to take economic risks and ISP's have gallantly taken this risk. Small businesses are the heart of the American economy because they drive innovation—new firms are established on the very premise that they can do a better job and recognize that a one-size-fits all approach is not good for business and innovation.

A few legacy carriers cannot continue to benefit from valuable government grants and licenses, including the use of public rights-of-way, and be allowed to extend those rights in a way that bars others from offering their service to the public.

President Bush has called for recognition that supporting America's small businesses is critical to ensuring continued job creation. Today, small businesses create two-thirds of new private sector jobs in America, employ more than half of all workers, and account for more than half of the output of our economy.

The FCC has been entrusted with protecting consumers, encouraging economic development, and ensuring that competition is allowed to develop, rather than being quashed by a deregulated monopoly. Already, we are seeing the Bells move to increase prices, and without regulation, small business will be harmed, thousands of ISP's will be forced out business, highly-skilled workers will lose their jobs and consumers will lose the choice of platform for broadband services and support.

Deregulation will be bad for America and we encourage to reconsider deregulating open access.

"We believe that all Americans are entitled to freedom of choice and that true competition is unbiased of its provider network. That we be allowed access to those networks to give all Americans their right to choose any mix of service or services they choose."

"We recognize that laws and policies must maintain equal, fair and nondiscriminatory access for all providers and that such laws and policies be upheld."

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