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Meet the Regulator
Broadband Deployment Rebecca Dorch,
Deputy Chief FCC Office of Engineering and
Technology Cable Open Access
Robert Cannon FCC Office of Plans Policy
Network Reliability P.J. Aduskevicz ATT FCC
Network Reliability Interoperability Council
Wireless Developments Dale Hatfield, Chief FCC
Office of Engineering and Technology
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Standard Disclaimer
The views expressed are my own and do not
necessarily represent those of the FCC, any
Commissioner, or my dog.
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Cable Open Access

• Robert Cannon
• Senior Counsel for Internet Issues
• Federal Communications Commission

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History
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FCC

• Restraint but monitoring
• Sec. 706 Report to Congress
• ATT Mergers
• AOL / TW (stayed pending FTC Outcome)
• Internet Ventures Petition - leased access
  channels
• Briefs in federal court
• Ch. Kennard announces FCC proceeding (June 2000)

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FCC Computer Inquiries

• 1966 Dependence of Computer Networks on Telecom
  Networks
• Computer Networks Highly competitive and
  innovative
• Telecom Networks Monopoly, bottleneck to
  computer networks
• Result
• Computer networks (enhance services, ie., ISPs)
  Unregulated
• Telecom (basic) Open Platform, safeguards to
  protect against discrimination and cross
  subsidization, required unbundling of transport
  from enhancement

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Federal Courts

• 9th Circuit (Portland) Its telecom service
  info service (i.e., Computer Inquiries)
• 4th Circuit (Henrico) Its cable service
• 11th Circuit (Pole Attachments) Its neither

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The Present
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Notice of Inquiry

• In the Matter of Inquiry Concerning High-Speed
  Access to the Internet Over Cable and Other
  Facilities
• NOI?
• Results?

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Definition Open Access

• The ability of consumers to choose the ISP of
  their choice . . . Enabling consumers and their
  chosen ISP to reach each other requires that ISPs
  not chosen by the cable company have the ability
  to purchase, on a nondiscriminatory basis, the
  use of last mile communications facilities to
  reach consumers who are requesting their
  service.
• OpenNet

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What Model?

• Cable is affiliated with one ISP and must use
  that ISP
• Cable is affiliated with no ISPs
• Cable is affiliated with a preferred ISP that
  manages network but consumer has choice of
  multiple ISPs

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What is it?!?

• Telecom?
• Telecom Service?
• Information Service?
• Advanced Service (Sec. 706)?
• Cable?
• Other?

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Open Access
HTML Telephony Mail Real HTTP
Media
Enhanced / Information Service
Applications
TCP / IP
ATM Frame Relay PPP Ethernet
Basic Telecom
Cable? Telecom
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Implications?

• If Telecom, Then ?
• Universal Service
• CALEA
• Disability access
• Access Charges
• Interconnection
• Computer II Unbundling requirement
• See USTA Petition that cable pay universal
  service fees.

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Policy Considerations

• What are the benefits of a competitive ISP
  market?
• What market forces are at play?
• What are the technical or operational Issues?

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Policy Considerations

• How do you make this work and not repeat the
  telecom wars?
• What action should the FCC take?
• Forebearance?
• Deference to market forces?
• Regulation?
• Regulation lite?

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Participate

• GN Docket No. 00-185
• Deadlines
• Comments due Dec 1
• Replies due Jan 10, 2001
• Anyone can file. FCC must consider your views.
• Electronic Comment Filing System
• http//www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html
• Relevant Documents www.fcc.gov/broadband/

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Thank you!

• Robert Cannon
• Senior Counsel for Internet Issues
• FCC Office of Plans and Policy
• rcannon_at_fcc.gov
• 202-418-2421