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Re: Final Stimulus bill broadband provisions - 7.2 Billion, grants only, no tax credits, NN in, (c) filtering out
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:33:58 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: "Bruce Kushnick" <bruce () newnetworks com> Date: February 13, 2009 11:59:17 PM EST To: <dave () farber net>Subject: RE: [IP] Final Stimulus bill broadband provisions - 7.2 Billion, grants only, no tax credits, NN in, (c) filtering out
the broadband portions of stimulus package amount to 7.2 Billion in loans and grants. These grants and loans do not have minimum bandwidth requirements, but the majority of them (the NTIA ones) will be subject to "interconnection and non-discrimination" obligations "to be determined" - but including as a minimum the provisions of the FCC's "Broadband Policy Statement" on network neutrality. The rural and
underserved area obligations are preferential, but non-binding.This language means that the networks do not have to be "OPEN" or "AVAILABLE
FOR COMPETITION. FCC 05-15 was the non-discrimination of VOIP providers -- but it clearlystates that broadband is NOT a telecom service --- and therefore DOES NOT
HAVE COMMON CARRIAGE OBLIGATIONS! http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-151A1.docFor those who may not remember, when the FCC got rid of line sharing so that
customers could choose their own ISP over the wire, the FCC redefined broadband as an 'interstate information service".The FCC docket mentioned, therefore does not open up the competition level, it only has to require that on the Internet level, the companies have some
principles they must respect.Therefore, whatever is built is still not open under this law, unless the
NTIA, etc decides to rewrite the FCC's DSL line sharing decision. B. ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
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- Re: Final Stimulus bill broadband provisions - 7.2 Billion, grants only, no tax credits, NN in, (c) filtering out David Farber (Feb 14)