Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: A New Article by John Berresford . . .on broadband and universal service
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 10:02:20 -0400
about Universal Service and Broadband has appeared in Boardwatch. Hardcopies provided on request. Part II to follow next month. Regards, John http://www.boardwatch.com/bw/may01/Broadband_Not_Everyone.htm
Why Universal Service Doesnt Work for Broadband Any Universal Broadband program should be created slowly and carefully The collective goal is to make some form of service physically available and financially affordable by, every home in this country A very few of existing programs work on "the supply side," giving or lending money to companies that will build or improve networks There may be legal obstacles to expanding traditional Universal Service to include broadband because the Act explicitly favors de-regulatory and private sectors to any "Broadband Divide," and implicitly disfavors government mandates Many of the distinctions that are basic to traditional Universal Service simply dont fit broadband service. Why You Should CareThere is talk at the FCC to include access to broadband in Universal Service programs. This article is the first of a two-part series on Universal Service and broadband access. Part one focuses on the arguments against using the current Universal Service program to extend broadband to rural areas. Part two will discuss a sound Universal Broadband program and how it would affect ISPs. Disclaimer Although the author is an employee of the FCC, the opinions herein are his alone and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the FCC or anyone else there. John W. Berresford is a senior antitrust attorney at the FCC. Most of his career has been in the private sector, however, and he has taught Communications Law at George Mason University School of Law. He works mostly on new technologies, such as broadband, major mergers and deregulation. Mr. Berresford is widely published on telecom law and policy, gay rights and the espionage case of Alger Hiss and Whittaker Chambers. He can be reached at jberres can be reached at jberres ford1 () home com. For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/
Current thread:
- IP: A New Article by John Berresford . . .on broadband and universal service David Farber (May 08)