Our friends at Arnold & Porter have released a paper [
pdf, 197KB] that looks at the “non-discrimination” and “network interconnection” obligations attached to the US broadband stimulus program. In particular, funding recipients are required to adhere to obligations at least as strong as those found in the FCC’s Internet Policy Statement [found here].
As we have written a number of times, the FCC’s 2005 policy statement is not particularly onerous by Canadian standards, which already captured these concepts in legislation in the Telecom Act. The A&P; paper raises some interesting questions, such as the potential for applicability of these obligations to wireless networks, in light of the fact that, to date, they have only been applied within the wireline context (ie. to telco and cable networks).
We have a session looking at Building Broadband at The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit, taking place in June in Toronto. The session features the leaders of Barrett Xplore and Sasktel, companies that are profitably providing universal broadband in some of the most remote areas in Canada. In addition, Ian Collins of Cogeco Data Services and Derek Slater of Google will provide views of the role of fibre in urban residential and business broadband. Mike Dixon, of Motorola’s Wireless Networks group rounds out the panel.
Affordable, universal access to broadband service is an achievable goal. Accelerating its deployment delivers immediate jobs constructing the networks as well as the long term economic benefits of a more connected populace.
Early bird registration rates are available until the end of this week. Have you registered yet for The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit?
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