Early next week Comcast file an application with the FCC for a formal review of the proposed Time Warner Cable transaction. And once that happens, the Federal Communications Commission will have an excellent opportunity to get some of the data it will need to decide if it should regulate interconnection agreements between last-mile ISPs such as Comcast and other companies selling bandwidth or content over IP.
This isn’t about content, it’s about access.
Wilson, NC, gets coverage in the NY Times as being a ‘Town with Fiber.’ The article points out that tech savvy entrepreneurs, as well as those with existing businesses who require greater speeds (in particular upload speed), are moving to the towns across the nation that have fiber to the home (FTTH). Check out the article at the link above.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140307/04485626475/weve-entered-age-fiber-to-press-release.shtml
Google Fiber intended to create a louder national dialogue about the lack of broadband competition. While their efforts have created competition in the areas where it’s deployed, Karl Bode says Google Fiber has created a new phenomenon he calls ‘fiber to the press release.’ This implies a carrier proclaims they, too, will soon be offering 1 Gbps broadband, but the announcement contains no hard specifics while the it states that ‘ISP X’ has joined the ultra-fast broadband race. Check out the article.
http://www.bbklaw.com/?t=40&an=29305&format=xml
The FCC is looking for additional input on the E-Rate program. Check out the link to Best Best & Krieger’s write-up on the issue.
RST is looking to change up the broadband services market in Asheville and the region. This may be a game changer! I hope the ERC can work with RST and create new solutions for WNC! Let’s create a new dialogue!