Access Inquiry Sought

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, June 7, 1999

FCC Local & State Govt. Advisory Committee (LSGAC) asked Commission to begin inquiry into access to cable broadband networks to decide whether ISPs should be guaranteed nondiscriminatory access to such networks. FCC is continuing talks with industry and parties, but hasn't taken official action.

In recommendation, panel didn't take official position on whether access should be guaranteed. Marilyn Praisner, panel's vice chmn., said LSGAC "has taken no official position on any merger" because it doesn't have capacity to analyze every deal, and hasn't worked with any ISPs on issue to date. LSGAC Chmn.

Kenneth Fellman said FCC appears inclined to wait before proceeding on broadband issue, but that "doesn't mean we shouldn't be talking about it."

FCC source said it was too early for Commission to make decision on request for inquiry. Staffer said Chmn. Kennard remains hesitant to act on anything that would stunt growth of Internet.

"The attitude that taking no action does no harm is not the correct approach," said Cheryl Leanza of Media Access Project (MAP), who agrees with FCC that Internet should remain unregulated but says that public access to Internet is regulated. MAP advocates open access but doesn't work directly with LSGAC.