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BrainstormingOutsidetheBoxPlease Brainstorm here with ideas about Fayetteville's broadband needs and ways we could expand our telecommunications capabilities. F.C.C. Begins Rewriting Rules on Delivery of the Internet http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/12/technology/12CND-NET.html New York Times, February 12, 2004 F.C.C. Begins Rewriting Rules on Delivery of the Internet By STEPHEN LABATON WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 — The Federal Communications Commission began writing new rules today that officials and industry experts said would profoundly alter both the way the Internet is delivered and used in homes and businesses. In one set of proceedings, the commission began writing regulations to enable computer users to gain access to the Internet through electric power lines. Consumers will be able to plug their modems directly into the wall sockets just as they do with any garden variety appliance. Officials said the new rules, which are to be completed in the coming months, would enable utilities to offer an alternative to the cable and phone companies and provide an enormous possible benefit to rural communities that are served by the power grid but not by broadband providers. In a second set of proceedings, commissioners began considering what rules ought to apply to companies offering Internet space and software to enable computer users to send and receive telephone calls. A majority of the commissioners suggested that the new phone services should have significantly fewer regulatory burdens than traditional phone carriers. The agency also voted 4-to-1 to approve the application of a small Internet company, Pulver.com, asking that its service of providing computer-to-computer phone service not make it subject to the same regulations and access charges as the phone carriers. Industry experts say that neither the phone service nor the broadband delivery systems offered by electric companies will take any sizable market share for at least the next two years. But in moving forward with the new regulations, they said the agency was reducing regulatory uncertainty and encouraging major companies and investors to make investments in the new technologies to enable them to move to market more quickly. The F.C.C. chairman, Michael K. Powell, and his two Republican colleagues on the commission said the agency's decisions on the two sets of rules and the Pulver application would ultimately transform the telecommunications industry and the Internet. "This represents a commitment of the commission of bringing tomorrow's technology today," Mr. Powell said. He added that the rules governing the new phone services were intended to make them as ubiquitous as e-mail, and at possibly a significantly lower cost than traditional phones, since the services would have lower regulatory costs. A Republican commissioner, Kathleen Q. Abernathy, said that the agency and industry "stands at the threshold of a profound transformation of the telecommunications marketplace" as more companies — including such giants as AT&T and Verizon — move from circuit-switching phone technology to Internet-based technology. But one Democratic commissioner, Michael J. Copps, raised objections to the Pulver petition and questioned the underlying themes of deregulation in the two rulemaking proceedings. He said that they had set the agency on a course that could effectively rewrite the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and make it easier for the incumbent phone companies to escape necessary regulation. Mr. Copps also criticized the majority of the commission for rejecting a request by law enforcement agencies that the F.C.C. first work out the legal and technical problems in monitoring phone calls over the Internet before granting Pulver's application or considering new rules for the Internet-based phone services. "I believe it is reckless to proceed, and I cannot support this decision at this time," he said of the Pulver application. "The majority apparently prefers to act now and fix law enforcement issues later — along with universal service, public safety, disability access and a host of other policies we are only beginning to address." Mr. Powell replied pointedly to Mr. Copps's criticism that the agency was rewriting the Telecommunications Act by offering a new deregulatory climate that the old phone companies might seek to take advantage of. "We can talk about rewriting the Telecommunications Act," he said. "But the Telecommunications Act is nine years old and it is being rewritten by technology." U.S. News & World Report: Title: Courting Calls. Highlight: Telecom and cable firms scramble to offer Internet calls Abstract: Telephone and cable companies are racing to adapt voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) technologies that will lower prices for telephone calls for customers and provide a range of services. With chart: Calling surge.' " the technology behind VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is poised to revolutionize the $200 billion phone industry. The technology, which uses a high-speed Internet connection instead of a conventional phone line, raises questions about the very definition of a telephone company and promises to have a dramatic impact on future regulation of the telecommunications industry." (www.usnews.com) Author(s): Mary Kathleen Flynn Citation: February 2, 2004 p 40-42 Section: Money & Business Subjects: TELECOMMUNICATIONS; TELEPHONE NUMBERS; LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE SERVICES; PRICES; GOVERNMENT REGULATION; FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION; INTERNET; AT&T; Qwest; Verizon; Cablevision; Comcast; Cox; Time Warner Cable; MCI; US SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS CO. Word Count: 1583 Ideas from California for online surveys of broadband users (or would-be users). One approach for Telecom Task Force It is important for California community-based technology centers to provide information and attend meetings of the California Public Utilities Commission regarding broadband access and use. Please see the attached letter, with a link to a web site for an online survey, and information about 5 meeting dates around the state in February. The online survey needs to be filled out by Feb 1 and seeks information on the the technology-using services of your community-based organization, the kind of connectivity you have access to, what you know about barriers to access and use, and what you may know about your organization's participants'/clients' home use of technology. If you are from California please take the time to fill this out, so that, at least, good data is available to inform policies and possibilities for broadband. Also, feel free to circulate to listservs involving community-based organizations that use and/or provide access to technology. Thanks! In Peace, Kevin Rocap krocap@csulb.edu Original Message -------- NOTE: We converted two attachments to plain text for your convenience in viewing. If you are a community-based organization and want to complete the survey, please see the link to the online version in the LETTER section. The AGENDA for the 5 meetings around the state is also embedded in this message. If you have any questions, please contact the people indicated below. >From: "Walker, Cynthia" <CIW@cpuc.ca.gov> >Subject: Survey and Workshop/Meetings with Community Groups for the SB >1563 Broadband Report >Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 11:30:11 -0800 > > >The Telecommunications Division mailed the attached letter, agenda and >survey to 3000 community group/organizations. The survey is online at the >Commission's website, and we are hoping that most recipients will respond >through that mechanism. In addition, we have scheduled 5 meetings around >the state to provide further opportunity for input. > >The purpose of the survey and meetings is to facilitate input from groups >who do not normally participate in Commission proceedings, particularly in >the areas of barriers to broadband access, how existing programs promote >access, and the benefits of having access . > >Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. > >Cynthia Walker >California Public Utilities Commission >Phone: 415.703.2591 >FAX: 415.703.4405 >ciw@cpuc.ca.gov LETTER: January 13, 2004 RE: Senate Bill 1563 Regarding Barriers to the Availability of Advanced Communications Services California Senate Bill 1563 requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to convene a proceeding to investigate barriers to the ubiquitous availability and use of advanced telecommunications technology, and to develop a plan to address these barriers. We seek your organizations opinion and help in identifying barriers and in understanding the benefits that your community currently experiences or would enjoy with improved access to the internet. As a local organization at the forefront of bridging the digital divide, your input is critical to providing an in-depth analysis. The final report is due to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2004. The CPUC Staff developed the attached questions as a mechanism to include your viewpoints and experiences in our report. Your responses to these questions would be extremely helpful to the Staff responsible for drafting this report. Please complete the online survey at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/cbosurvey by Tuesday, February 3, 2004. Alternatively, you may complete the survey in hard copy and mail it to: Karen Watts-Zagha California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor San Francisco, CA 94102 In addition, the CPUC Staff will host five meetings around the state to discuss these questions and to provide your community with an additional opportunity to respond to the CPUCs? specific questions as well as share other information with our Staff. We hope you will be able to attend one of these meetings. The meetings will be held on the following dates, times and places: San Francisco: Tuesday, February 10, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Auditorium Hiram Johnson State Building 455 Golden Gate Ave San Francisco, CA 94102 Fresno: Thursday, February 19, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Assembly Room Room 1036 Hugh M. Burns State Building 2550 Mariposa Mall Fresno, CA 93721 San Diego: Tuesday, February 24, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm San Diego State Building Room B 109 1350 Front Street San Diego, CA 92101 Los Angeles: Wednesday, February 25, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Los Angeles CPUC office Auditorium 320 West Fourth St. Ste 500 Los Angeles, CA 90013 Redding: Wednesday, March 3, 2004, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Redding City Hall City Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue Redding, CA 96001 As background, please view the CPUC's initial order convening the proceeding at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/word_pdf/FINAL_DECISION/25266.doc The legislation motivating this effort is Attachment A to this document. Please let us know if you plan on attending one of the meetings by noting the meeting of your choice on the online survey or by filling out the form at the end of this letter and mailing the form to Karen Watts-Zagha at the address listed above. If you have any questions, or need further information, please contact either Cynthia Walker at (415) 703-2591 or via email at ciw@cpuc.ca.gov or Karen Watts-Zagha at (415) 703-2287 or via email at kwz@cpuc.ca.gov. Thank you for your help. We look forward to hearing from you. Jack Leutza, Director Telecommunications Director cc.: Susan Kennedy, Assigned Commissioner Kim Malcolm, Administrative Law Judge Phyllis White, Telecommunications Division Cynthia Walker, Telecommunications Division Karen Watts-Zagha, Telecommunications Division Organization Name_____________________________________________________ Contact Person_________________________________________________________ Telephone____________________________________________ Email________________________________________________ _______(number of people) will attend the following meeting: ___San Francisco, February 10, 2004 ___Fresno, February 19, 2004 ___San Diego, February 24, 2004 ___Los Angeles, February 25, 2004 ___Redding, March 3, 2004 AGENDA: Agenda for Five CPUC Meeting with CBOs? Assessing Barriers to Broadband Access 1) Introductions and Overview a. SB 1563 and the CPUC Broadband Proceeding b. When you speak, please take some time to identify yourself and describe your constituency c. Ground Rules i. Participants will each have an opportunity to respond to the questions listed below. ii. Questions and comments to those presentations are welcome, but we ask that you wait until the presenter has finished responding to the question. 2) Is broadband widely available and used by your constituent community? Are there barriers (such as those listed below) to the availability and use of broadband by your constituent community? a. High price of broadband services? b. Cost of customer equipment, such as computers and modems? c. Lack of computer familiarity and training? d. Cultural, religious and educational beliefs and/or customs? e. Others? 3) Would more availability and use of broadband in your communities promote economic growth, job creation, or other social benefits? How? Can you provide specific examples? 4) Does your organization utilize existing broadband subsidy programs such as the California Teleconnect Fund, the Federal E-Rate, Federal Rural Utilities Service, or other programs? a. Are these programs meeting your constituent needs? b. Are there funding gaps or are there other ways the programs could be improved to better serve your constituent needs? 5) Summary of meeting ------------------------------------- The town that turned off BT The residents of one Yorkshire town got so fed up with being passed over for broadband access that they set up Britain's first ISP cooperative. Kate Bulkley reports Monday January 12, 2004 The Guardian The Calder Valley in West Yorkshire is famous for being the poet Ted Hughes's birthplace, having an outstanding annual writing conference and being a slightly eccentric area with an ex-hippie-commune feel about it. Now one of the valley's several market towns, Hebden Bridge, is set to become known for pioneering technology developments in the world of broadband. This is because the Hebden Bridge community has set up Britain's first cooperative internet service provider (ISP). There are some local ISPs? around Britain already, but this co-op version, funded almost entirely without government money, could threaten the very core of BT's future communications business and provide a shining light for like-minded people throughout the country. The difference between Hebden Bridge's co-op and other local ISPs? is that it will provide an even cheaper broadband service, in addition to locally generated news and information. And with a newly installed wireless system, this West Yorkshire community could ultimately bypass the traditional phone system entirely, allowing villagers to phone each other without using the BT network at all. And it's all done on a non-profit basis so that the savings for the co-op members are as high as possible. This kind of ground-breaking telecommunication model has put a spotlight on the town. "It shows the power of community," says Clive Mayhew-Begg, the CEO and founder of My-Zones Europe Ltd, the technology provider for the project. "It's back to the whole concept of cooperative buying and proves that you don't need to be an AOL to get the best price in the marketplace. "You can be a group of local people and get the best prices and also have the local value-added aspect, which is really important," he adds. Mayhew-Begg believes as many as 200 similar communities in the UK could soon follow the Hebden Bridge model. It was just a year ago that the wheels were inadvertently set in motion for the co-op ISP to become reality. A number of people were eager to sign up for broadband, but were prevented by BT, which only upgrades local telephone exchanges if take-up of the service can be guaranteed. In the case of Hebden Bridge that meant 500 connections, which for a small rural community is too high. So Mark Harrison, an IT consultant who has lived in the town for many years, and some fellow home-workers formed an action group to lobby BT to change its policy. Harrison and his net-savvy group of residents were frustrated with the slowness of their dial-up internet connections and he feared that without broadband the thriving small business community in the area might begin to disperse and hurt the micro economy. The group lobbied hard but admit they were surprised when in May BT lowered the upgrade trigger to 300 connections. "Our jaws dropped slightly when we realised that the pressure we had put on BT had worked," says Harrison. This meant that broadband was now available to all 10,000 phone lines in the Hebden Bridge area. However, the action group felt this victory was not enough. Instead of disbanding, they decided to go a step further and take control of their own broadband, and Britain's first cooperative ISP was born. The project was set up using an initial £70 from co-op shares (£1 per member), a £600 grant from the town council, a donation of £5,000-worth of broadband and wireless equipment from the technology supplier MyZones? and lots of help from Harrison and others, the latter estimated to be worth as much as £40,000. Now, seven months after the creation of 3-C (Calder Connect Co-operative), it is providing service to 80 members in Hebden Bridge for £15 to £20 a month, depending on whether members want a fixed-line connection or a (cheaper) wireless connection to broadband. Today the co-op has 320 members, 200 of them from neighbouring Mytholmroyd. It expects the whole town to sign up for 3-C once BT upgrades Mytholmroyd's telephone exchange in February. The co-op aims to have 1,000 broadband users by the end of 2004, many of them using wireless hotspot technology (Wi-Fi) to share 2-megabit bandwidth connections. Harrison, 3-C's chairman, thinks that through word-of-mouth and locally printed flyers locals up and down the Calder Valley will choose 3-C over other, commercial ISPs?. The savings for members - as much as £10 per month cheaper than BT Openworld broadband - will also mean that a higher percentage of low income homes will be able to afford the service than in other areas of the country. "Through the power of the co-op we want to get into people's homes that wouldn't normally have this kind of high-speed connection to the web, so we can raise people's skills and raise the threshold of who is able to get the service," says Harrison. There is now a huge buzz around Hebden Bridge as it discovers the power of its own community, says Harrison. Even Stephen Timms, the e-commerce minister, sent a message of support to the recent day of wireless broadband demonstrations in the town. "The real value for the consumer is that the co-op will develop value-added services that you will never get from BT," says MyZones?' Mayhew-Begg. "It's a value proposition. It's a threat to BT and the commercial ISPs? and it's an evolution of the net because it enables a different level of services than if they were just bought individually off commercial suppliers." But not everyone believes co-op ISPs? are the way forward. "I see what they are doing in Hebden Bridge as positive because it is good for the community, but I don't see it as sustainable," says Jane Moch, ICT/broadband development manager for the Northamptonshire Partnership, which is bringing broadband to rural communities in that county through public/private partnerships. "Community broadband networks start out because telecommunication companies are not interested or not able to drive services into an area," says Moch. "If you drive forward by developing a community broadband network, you end up being a telecommunications company - and by becoming a telco you take on all the overhead and the business burdens and the commercial needs of a telco and so it is quite likely to fall apart." There have been some high-profile failures of community ISPs?, such as Invisible Networks in Cambridgeshire. Invisible, headed by Chris Nuttall, the man behind internet pioneer Pipex, became insolvent in October. But Harrison says the co-op approach in the Calder Valley should prevent the kind of difficulties experienced by for-profit ISPs?. "The co-op buys the wholesale broadband from BT, and My Zones does the backed provision of service and the authentication of users," says Harrison. "We have also built in a chunk of money for staff and the co-op will likely have two employees." Harrison says 3-C will tap into government funding schemes, such as West Yorkshire Social Enterprise, and believes customer support issues can be dealt with through a local co-op volunteer programme. "Most of this has been built through volunteer time and social energy," he says. "It's possible because this is a bit of an eccentric valley. Hebden Bridge is the only place I know that has a Christmas party for people who work from home." Harrison's can-do approach includes thinking big about how 3-C can earn money consulting for other communities wanting to set up co-operative ISPs?. "Even though this is happening in a small valley in rural West Yorkshire, potentially it could be replicated throughout local communities in the UK," he says. The Hebden Bridge project is helping to fulfil the government's Broadband Britain strategy and provides an example of why the new super-regulator Ofcom is looking very closely at BT's wholesale pricing, making sure the operator is not stifling demand. And what is BT's view of the initiative? "There are a whole range of different initiatives happening," says a spokesman, "and from BT's point of view they all increase the visibility of broadband in the market. They are just one of 200-plus ISPs? that retail our wholesale product." Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004 _________________________________________________________________ The Buske Group Telecommunications Consultants NEW! -- Click here to see the text of many good cable TV franchise agreements. Click here to access a chart showing outcomes of recent cable franchise renewals, plus many other useful files. |