Issue Briefs
Open Access
January 2011
Open access supporters want cable operators to provide transport to competing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) at government-determined rates, terms and conditions. Under open access, cable operators would be required to separate or unbundle data transport from the provision of content and allow competing ISPs, who haven't built facilities, to ride on cable's extensive broadband infrastructure.
Open access advocates claim that small ISPs need government protection to ensure the Internet remains available to all large providers don't restrict access to content. This is an ill-conceived policy for several reasons, including:
- vigorous facilities-based competition between broadband cable, telephone and satellite providers have led to robust expansion of Internet usage;
- the federal government's "hands-off" approach to the Internet has resulted in record numbers of Americans being connected to high-speed data services;
- broadband cable provides no Internet content restriction;
- regulating broadband cable Internet services will reduce infrastructure advances, and stifle entrepreneurial investment in Internet technologies;
- any regulatory approach to broadband needs to be at the federal level, rather than a hodge-podge of state rules and regulations;
- regulation is only warranted if the case of market failure (conversely, the Internet is the most popular, successful launch of a new service in American history).
Pennsylvania broadband cable operators have invested nearly $8 billion in infrastructure since the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Our aggressive deployment of broadband high speed data services has spurred competition and provided unparalleled benefits to rural, suburban and urban Pennsylvania. BCAP members want to continue to invest risk capital to further enhance broadband education, communication and entertainment services for residents and businesses of the Commonwealth.
© 2012 Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania