March 30, 2008

Assistant Secretary John Kneuer on broadband policy

We have a problem in Washington DC. Both political parties are out to lunch. The problem is that we have a duopoly and it has gotten worse with most of the 700 MHz spectrum just relased going to the incumbent telcos. Our politicians are only focused on the duopoly, not an open marketplace that is what is needed. Republicans want to regulate the duopoly less, and Democrats want more regulation of the duopoly under the guise of “net neutrality”.

Here’s an address that Secretary Kneuer gave along with Q and A. Download MP3

What is the best way to ensure fair network access and promote innovation in this potentially lucrative new space? Kneuer suggests that the applications industry has historically taken the access layer for granted, and is now pushing the government to insure that access. Regulators in Washington, D. C., however, are moving to a new model, the market. Rather than having the government setting rates, terms and conditions (a practice that promotes competition in the regulatory space, not the technology space), Kneuer proposes that market forces will advantage those companies that deliver the new products and services consumers want. He invites application companies to engage at the policy level, but also to step up in the new marketplace. From (IT Conversations)

This guy seems to have his heart in the right place, but he’s in denial about not having an open and competitive marketplace. I hope this inspires a few you you to do a little lobbying of your own. For my part, I am.