Broadband Technology, June 5, 1998
BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT: REGULATORY INCENTIVES AND BARRIERS
Larry Clinton, Associate Vice President, Large Companies Affairs of the United States Telephone Association ("USTA") the largest association of local exchange carriers and Ron Plesser, of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. and counsel to the Commercial Internet eXchange ("CIX"), the largest association of Internet Service Providers will host a panel for the Congressional Internet Caucus intended to explore the regulatory issues surrounding the deployment of broadband services to the home.
Broadband technology is the ability to transmit voice, video, and data at the same time over the same line at high speeds. Such technology will facilitate a much larger range of services than currently exists, enabling users to access movies, music recordings, video games, and video conferencing from home. The deployment of broadband services will result in the realization of an Information Superhighway far superior to today's Internet.
Several important regulatory issues will determine the speed and manner in which broadband is deployed. The potential implications of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to the various network architectures proposed to deliver broadband services raise important policy issues for both regulators and providers. The regulatory framework that ultimately governs broadband services must ensure that incentives exist for rapid deployment of those technologies while at the same time maintaining the innovation and competition that currently exists for Internet services.
The panel will examine differing Carrier and ISP interests and perspectives on the impact that current FCC proceedings or legislation might have on this framework.
Speakers Included:
- Jonathan Sallet
Chief Policy Counsel
MCI Communications Corp.
- Steve Stewart
Program Manager
Telecommunications Policy
IBM Corp.
- Representatives from
The Progress and Freedom Foundation
and
Bell Atlantic Corp.