distance-limited technology
Yesterday, Ars Technica posted a long and interesting article that offers a case study of AT&T rollout of fiber in affluent Chicago suburbs. AT&T, Verizon, and whatever other ILECs might remain want to enter the landline television business, but are hampered by local franchise agreements which were developed for cable systems. In particular, cable franchise agreements generally require system operators to build out to an entire community within a given timeframe, to prevent differents service being offered to wealthy areas and poorer areas. Because of telco network topology, it is difficult to completely cover an area with digital access, so the telcos have been pressuring the FCC to re-classify their digital TV systems to avoid these restrictions and Congress to establish national TV franchises.
In the case Ars describes, AT&T just began rolling out services without the consent of the communities or the FCC. Instead, they simply started installing equipment on public rights-of-way, irking property owners and raising the ire of community activists.
While I encourage you to read the story, I thought it glossed over two issues I think are importanto to this debate. First, national cable franchises or unilateral efforts like AT&T’s will provide no allowance for public access systems. While franchises at the local level often include provisions that require operators to fund local public-access systems. It’s unlikely that media-access activists could pressure telcos and MSOs at the national level, eliminating the sometimes enlightening and sometimes frightening world of public-access TV. Secondly, I do worry about issues of the digital divide and institutional racism. When I lived in West Philly, my largely black neighborhood was one of the last in the area to get DSL access, and if there is not build-out requirement, I could see the telcos never investing in a fiber build-out to the inner-city. The ILECs enjoyed a century-long monopoly, which saw Jim Crow laws and redlinling. Since they were able to profit during this era, telco policy should address the racism of the past.
