Policy Forum - Briefs

Posted 01/15//2001

Policy Forum

Briefs

After a year-long legal battle, Kentucky regulators set an important legal precedent for open access to DSL broadband services. BellSouth Corp. (www.bellsouth.com) was found guilty of violations regarding how it deploys DSL in Kentucky. The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC, www.psc.state.ky .us) ruled in favor of IgLou Internet Services Inc. (www.iglou.com), a regional ISP based in Louisville, saying BellSouth provided preferential and discriminatory access to its own Internet operations to the detriment of other ISPs. The PSC said that the issues raised by IgLou's complaint elevated the private dispute to one that concerns the growth of telecom competition in the state, as well as ease of access to information technology. At press time, the PSC had set an end-of-year 2000 deadline for BellSouth to change its business practices. Sources predict that more court action is likely.

In its continued efforts to facilitate the delivery of advanced services to the public, the FCC (www.fcc.gov) ruled that a new class of fixed satellite service providers could share a band of airwaves now used by direct broadcast satellite (DBS) companies. These providers can offer a variety of new services, such as high-speed Internet access, as well as other types of high-speed data, video and telephony services. And because of their ability to serve large portions of the earth's surface, fixed satellite service providers also can bring advanced services to rural areas. Non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) fixed-satellite service (FSS) providers now will be permitted to operate in various segments of the Ku-band to provide such services. The FCC's action also should promote increased competition among satellite and terrestrial services. But the rollout of these new services won't happen overnight. The FCC seeks comment on several technical and service issues, including the criteria for sharing, and how best to make the spectrum available.

First Layer Communications Inc. (www.firstlayercom.com) has gained collocation installation approval from SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com). First Layer now can install in caged collocation areas, as well as cageless collocation rooms, for companies seeking to roll out services such as DSL in SBC's 13-state operating region. First Layer currently is working nationwide providing engineering and installation services for selective CLECs, wireless providers, and broadband DSL providers.

The FCC has proposed reallocating a total of 27 megahertz of spectrum from the 216-220 MHz, 1390-1395 MHz, 1427-1429 MHz, 1429-1432 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz, and 2385-2390 MHz bands. By releasing this spectrum from strictly governmental use, the FCC believes new technologies and services would be developed, additional spectrum relief would be provided for congested private land mobile frequencies, and a variety of potential applications in both new and existing services would be fostered. The FCC is now considering comments in this new proceeding.

The Competitive Telecommunications Association (CompTel, www.comptel.org) launched a new campaign aimed at educating lawmakers on how the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has benefited consumers by spurring innovation, deploying new technologies, and opening local markets to increased competition. The lobbying effort essentially is designed to urge the new Congress to continue and strengthen the pro-competitive elements of the Telecom Act.

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