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FTTH Council Urges Policymakers to Remove Deployment Barriers
WASHINGTON --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 14, 2006 -- The Fiber-to-the-Home Council (FTTH Council) today urged Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to remove barriers to deployment of next-generation broadband communications infrastructure.
In a filing submitted to the FCC, the FTTH Council presented evidence that burdens often imposed on the acquisition of cable television franchises harm consumers, slow next-generation broadband deployment, and violate federal telecommunications law. Among the obstacles cited by the FTTH Council were: lengthy negotiating periods of six to 30 months, level-playing field laws (which serve to protect incumbents and deter new entry), requirements to extend networks beyond economic limits; requirements to move aerial plant underground, and imposition of unrelated fees and costs. The FTTH Council called on the FCC to use its authority to adopt regulations removing these barriers.
And in testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, the FTTH Council defended the rights of municipal governments to provide broadband services. Noting that municipal broadband networks often serve citizens who would otherwise have inadequate services, the FTTH Council urged support for legislation prohibiting restrictions on municipal broadband authored by Senators Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and John McCain (AZ).
"We believe municipalities and private sector broadband providers should work together to ensure national coverage of next-generation optical broadband," said FTTH Council Joseph P. Savage. "It is in the interest of the United States to have the world's most advanced communications network, and removing barriers to franchising and municipal broadband will help move us toward that goal."
FTTH in the US has grown dramatically in recent years and now exists in over 654 communities in 46 states. However, the US still has less than 3% of our homes passed with fiber and is falling further behind countries such as Japan, Korea and Sweden.
The FTTH Council will discuss these recommendations further with national policymakers during its quarterly meeting February 27-March 1 in Washington, DC.
About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council
The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council is a non-profit organization established in 2001 to educate the public on the opportunities and benefits of fiber-to-the-home solutions. FTTH Council members represent all areas of broadband industries, including telecommunications, computing, networking, system integration, engineering, and content-provider companies, as well as traditional telecommunications service providers, utilities and municipalities. Communities and organizations interested in exploring FTTH options can find information on the FTTH Council web site at http://www.ftthcouncil.org or by e-mailing info@ftthcouncil.org.
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