FCC Press Release http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1999/nrcc9004.html Snippets: -- The Commission found that at least 375,000 residential consumers are purchasing broadband services, and that substantially more have access to broadband capability. [editorial: this is reasonable and timely access? assume 2 people per household = 137000 US households = 3% penetration] -- The Commission found that some companies are starting to build and deploy broadband facilities to serve numerous rural and low-income areas. The Commission concluded that, although much of the evidence is anecdotal, specific examples indicate that these areas do not appear to present an intractable barrier to deployment. [???? this is beltway-speak] no link to the actual report. Again, from Benton-Communications: Common Carrier Bureau Agenda Item The FCC's Common Carrier Bureau (CCB) presented an overview of its Report to Congress on the deployment of advanced services to all Americans in a "reasonable and timely fashion." The item was subsequently adopted by the Commission. CCB Chief Larry Strickling addressed three points to keep in mind about the report: 1) the deployment of broadband is in its very early stages and needs to be monitored on a going forward basis; 2) the standard of "what is broadband" is going to be an evolving one; and 3) it is important at this emergent stage that the FCC's policies encourage a multiplicity of entrants using a multiplicity of technologies. The Report indicates that: -- The deployment of broadband appears at present to be reasonable and timely (networks are being built, services are being offered to paying customers, and billions of dollars are being invested). -- The number of residential customers subscribing to advanced services is as great or greater than telephone service, black and white TV/color TV, and cellular service at the same point in the history of the evolution of these services. -- Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a good deal of broadband activity in rural areas. -- The FCC is far from the goal that all Americans have reasonable access to broadband and the FCC will remain committed to ensuring that everyone has access to advanced telecommunications capabilities. Commissioners' Statements Chairman Kennard said the FCC will have to continue to assess the deployment of advanced services because it is still in its early stages. He emphasized that access needs to be ubiquitous and that measures need to be taken to make sure that increased demand for advanced services does not result in a disparity between urban and rural areas. Chairman Kennard asked the CCB to "scrutinize even more" the needs of rural America. Commissioner Ness said that infrastructure providers need to "remain ahead of the curve" so that when there is consumer demand for new advanced services they are available. Ness echoed Kennard's statement about advanced services reaching all Americans and said it is especially critical that such services reach all schools and classrooms. Finally, Ness said "in no respect are we contemplating regulation of the Internet.....we need to keep a watchful eye but practice regulatory constraint." Commissioner Powell said the FCC will continue to monitor and measure the level of deployment and remarked that policy makers need to "incentivize" deployment in terms of de-regulation. Powell added that one should be cautious about "early cries" for mandatory access -- this will bring short term benefit but long term cost. Commissioner Tristani expressed concern about the reliability of the Report's findings. Tristani said it is important to know what is being offered and where it is being deployed. Tristani remarked that the Report in large part does not accomplish this and cautioned against making any certain conclusions based on the Report. "Congress asked us to report on the state of deployment -- not on the comments that were filed," she said. Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth was absent from the meeting. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* To subscribe to the Benton Communications-Related Headlines, send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message, type only: subscribe benton-compolicy YourFirstName YourLastName > Kathy E. Gill > DCAC/MRM Methods Communication -- 425.965.6901 > Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is the key to unlocking our >potential. ~ Liane Cardes > Microsoft Exchange: the perfect name for its users' greatest desire! > ____________________________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Join The NEW Web Consultants Association FORUMS and CHAT: Register Today at: http://just4u.com/forums/ Web Consultants Web Site : http://just4u.com/webconsultants Give the Gift of Life This Year... Just4U Stop Smoking Support forum - helping smokers for over three years-tell a friend: http://just4u.com/forums/ To get 500 Banner Ads for FREE go to http://www.linkbuddies.com/start.go?id=111261 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
