VIDEO DIALTONE AND THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

VIDEO DIALTONE AND THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE


Anyone who follows the debate on the development of the National
Information Infrastructure is likely to hear the phrase "Video Dialtone."
And those who are primarily concerned about broadening access to the Net
are likely to just dismiss this as just more movies for couch potatoes.  As
currently written, the Video Dialtone rules set up by the FCC don't do much
for ensuring open access to the Net.  If fact, they have lots of flaws.
But with some changes, a strong set of video dialtone rules could help
expand access to the Net and promote a true diversity of information
sources.


BACKGROUND ON THE VIDEO DIALTONE RULES


FCC's video dialtone regulations were originally created as a way to allow
local telephone companies to deliver video programming to their customers.
Local phone companies are still prevented from owning the video programs,
but under these rules they get to take one step into the cable television
market.  The purpose of the regulations was two-fold: provide some
competition for cable companies to force the price down, and encourage the
telephone companies to invest more in modernizing their infrastructure.


Sadly, the regulations are quite vague. They contain no technology or
system architecture specifications.  Under the rules a video dialtone
system could be built just like today's cable systems -- lots of downstream
channels with essentially no upstream capacity.  Or, the system could be
made up of a series of video information servers, onto which any video
programmer can place programs.  Or, some other architecture could be
chosen.  The only requirement on the telephone company operating a video
distribution platform is to make this distribution capacity available
according to the following terms.   VDT service is divided into two
categories:


        -Tier I: Basic distribution facilities which independent video
programmers (VIPs) rent from the telco under a non-discriminatory tariff.
Since no technology is specified, this tier can be implemented as just
series of channels in a cable-like system, or as a series of menu choices
in a server-based system.


        -Tier II: Enhanced service which the telco is allowed to own an
operate, embellished will all the fancy navigational aides and development
tools that the telco wants to make available.  Under the regulations,
telcos can own Tier II content up to 5% of the total system capacity.


Note that the Markey infrastructure bill recently proposed (HR 3636), would
increase the amount of programming that the telephone company can own to
25%.


VIDEO DIALTONE AND ACCESS TO THE NET


A key purpose of the video dialtone rules is to create incentives for local
telephone companies to modernize and increase the capacity of their local
networks to be able to carry bandwidth-hungry video signals.  To creators
of the rules also hoped that this high capacity enhancement to the
telephone networks would offer high speed interactive/bi-directional
capacity.


There are at least three two big questions whose answers will determine
whether video dialtone has any meaning beyond just a bunch of movies.


1.  Will the telephone companies build enough upstream capacity into
their video dialtone systems to make net access possible?


2. Will third-party inform providers, including IP providers, be able to
hook into the video dialtone platform?


3. Will all of the standards for interconnection, signaling, control, etc.,
be open enough to enable third party programmers and providers to construct
flexible and useful systems?


To some, video dialtone (VDT) may seem like a backwards way to bring net
access to more people.  But remember, VDT is something that lots of
telephone companies WANT to do.  They want to do it because they think they
can make money selling videos and other stuff over this platform.  Also,
because of its inclusion in the Markey bill, VDT may assumed increased
importance.  So, if we can structure the rules for offering this kind of
service properly, it could serve as a critical gateway to lots of other
nets and information services.


This note is an early attempt to explore the usefulness of video dialtone
as a model for promoting net access.  Comments are appreciated.




......................................................................
Daniel J. Weitzner, Senior Staff Counsel              <djw () eff org>
Electronic Frontier Foundation                        202-347-5400 (v)
1001 G St, NW  Suite 950 East                         202-393-5509 (f)
Washington, DC 20001


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