SECURITY AND BROADBAND TOP 2002 ISSUES, USIIA PREDICTS
Broadband and Internet security “will dominate policy discussions throughout 2002,” U.S. Internet Industry Assn. (USIIA) Pres. David McClure predicted. In white paper Internet Public Policy in 2002 scheduled for release today (Thurs.), McClure said this election year would be like many others featuring “fluffy” bills designed to woo voters. Along with continuing debate on broadband and security, however, he predicted that permanent ban on Internet access taxes and modest bill limiting spam would clear Congress. He anticipated little action on digital rights management, and estimated it wouldn’t be good year from regulators for competitive telecom providers not using their own facilities.
As has been promised by Technology Administration Dir. Bruce Mehlman and other Bush Administration officials, McClure said White House would support national broadband policy “as an instrument of economic recovery.” In interview, he said that policy was likely to include tax incentives and other means to encourage carriers to offer broadband to underserved areas. USIIA has 10-point agenda on broadband, including support for: (1) Committing U.S. policy to have broadband available to every home, business and school by end of decade. (2) Preempting states on Internet regulation by confirming that it’s inherently an interstate service. (3) Making permanent R&D tax credit. (4) Encouraging investment in alternate broadband delivery methods such as wireless and satellite. (5) Imposing permanent moratorium on Internet access taxes.
USIIA also called for ensuring that broadband networks of all sorts “provide for access to and nondiscriminatory prices and services” for ISPs. McClure said wholesale pricing was “critical” for ISPs, but said requirement of access to cable broadband plants probably would be closed off by FCC rulemaking in next month. He told us Commission also was likely to rule against competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) in various rulemakings in favor of facilities-based technologies this year: “This may be the death of the CLECs.”
On digital rights management front, McClure said “no major copyright actions are announced or expected,” although he said ISPs needed “constant vigilance” to protect their customers from film and music companies that might be too zealous in their efforts to crack down on piracy. He echoed House Internet Caucus Co-Chmn. Boucher (D-Va.) in suggesting that most consumers were willing to pay modest amount for access to digital songs and movies that allowed them same flexibility of use of CD or videotape, and warned against any intellectual property legislation that would hinder that.