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Martin To Deregulate Wireless Broadband
Classify it as information service, like DSL, Cable & BPL before it
The FCC's Kevin Martin is circulating an order that would make wireless broadband an "information service," largely freeing it from the regulation imposed upon telecom services, and making his deregulatory position consistent across technologies. The FCC recently did the same thing for broadband over powerline (BPL) in the hopes of speeding up deployment. The same thing was done for both DSL and cable, but not without some degree of controversy.
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Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Benefits?

So, this benefits Clearwire, Bellsouth (ahem, AT&T) and who else?

Would this cover the EVDO and HSDPA rollouts?

Michieru2
zzz zzz zzz
Premium Member
join:2005-01-28
Miami, FL

Michieru2

Premium Member

Re: Benefits?

EVDO/HSDPA/WiMAX are considered mobile broadband solutions so yes most likely they do apply.

POB
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium Member
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA

1 edit

POB to Matt3

Premium Member

to Matt3
said by Matt3:

So, this benefits Clearwire, Bellsouth (ahem, AT&T) and who else?
Martin is the errand boy of the telcos. Of course dereg will benefit his masters in the industry. Deregulation always benefits Big Bu$ine$$.
SD6
join:2005-03-26
Pittsburgh, PA

SD6 to Matt3

Member

to Matt3
said by Matt3:

Would this cover the EVDO and HSDPA rollouts?
It's hard to say. The linked article is very sketchy. I've heard deregulation of WiMax telecom services proposed before, but not HSDPA.

bassthumpa
Premium Member
join:2000-12-26
Austin, TX

bassthumpa

Premium Member

Cost?

Would this move give carriers like AT&T, VZW, Sprint, etc incentive to lower their cellular broadband rates?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

3 recommendations

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Cost?

said by bassthumpa:

Would this move give carriers like AT&T, VZW, Sprint, etc incentive to lower their cellular broadband rates?

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: Cost?

Dude... at least put up a dignified picture of the Commander in Chief!
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88

Member

no exist

So the FCC officially doesnt exist anymore?
ohmygod3
join:2007-02-05
Sunnyvale, CA

ohmygod3

Member

Wireless vs BPL

Hopefully this will be another nail in the coffin of BPL...
mrbueno
join:2002-08-03
US

1 edit

mrbueno

Member

It's not regulated!

How do you deregulate something that isn't regulated? The FCC may control spectrum licensing, but they don't control the Internet. Yet.
GPershing
join:2007-02-06
San Francisco, CA

GPershing

Member

Re: It's not regulated!

Let's go to the video tape:
- In 1968 the FCC initiated a proceeding known as the Computer Inquiries in which the FCC regulated telecom carriers specifically for the benefit of computer networks.... the Internet. While the Internet was not regulated, it was a specific goal of the policy.
- In 1982, the FCC exercised federal jurisdiction over computer networks over telephone networks, stating that no local access charges could be applied. By doing this, the FCC preempted states from taking action. It is an odd sort of thing where the FCC affirmatively took action and the action was "null" but thereby prevented anyone else from taking action.
- The FCC/DOJ opposed the Sprint/MCI merger on the grounds of Internet backbone consolidation.
- Recently the FCC imposed the obligation of E911 capability on VoIP providers who interconnect with the PSTN.
- Recently the FCC imposed CALEA obligations on facilities based Internet broadband providers.
- The FCC has affirmatively rules that Internet over Broadband is an information service and therefore not a telephone carrier. Again, this preempts the states and prevents the states from regulating internet providers as common carriers.
- The FCC subsidizes Internet access to schools and libraries through the ERate program.
- The FCC requires that schools and libraries that receive Erate have filters on their Internet connections.

How do you mean that the FCC does not regulate the Internet? For more info, see www.cybertelecom.org

Thanks
mrbueno
join:2002-08-03
US

mrbueno

Member

Re: It's not regulated!

quote:
The FCC has affirmatively rules that Internet over Broadband is an information service and therefore not a telephone carrier. Again, this preempts the states and prevents the states from regulating internet providers as common carriers.
Internet providers are not common carriers and as such are not a regulated industry. The FCC is not the Internet policing authority. Not yet anyway. Just because they are handing out orders doesn't mean they are properly authorized to do so, yet. A legal challenge to this has never been filed so it's more or less up in the air until then. Once that authority is challenged I am sure they will clearly be placed in charge.

The designation of information service often exists to indicate that a service is not subject to regulation via telecommunications laws and regulations. Not subject to regulation.

Look up the Brand-X case for more info.
GPershing
join:2007-02-06
San Francisco, CA

GPershing

Member

What Proceeding?

Pursuant to the administrative procedures act, the FCC must give notice of any decision it is about to make - and provide the public an opportunity to comment on the record. I dont recall any notice that the FCC was considering Internet over wireless to be an info service. Does anyone know what proceeding this is?

jaxdomino
join:2001-12-01
Jacksonville, FL

jaxdomino

Member

Re: What Proceeding?

Martin is CONSIDERING it, it's not a policy statement from the FCC...YET.