[9640] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
bill summary: Telecommunications Act
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (adam fast)
Sat Jan 15 02:31:55 1994
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 1994 23:31:03 -0800 (PST)
From: adam fast <adamfast@u.washington.edu>
To: com-priv@psi.com, communet@uvmvm.BITNET, nii_agenda@civicnet.org,
In-Reply-To: <9401141835.AA28144@avalle.insoft.com>
folks,
here is a quick summary of the bill, in plain language and complete
sentences. hope it explains the idea...
adam
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The Telecommunications Competition Act
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January 14, 1994
The Telecommunications Competition Act causes developers of the
information highway to address the public good by equitably meeting the
needs of local communities and by stimulating economic development in
Washington. Monopoly control of telecommunications in any given community
is disallowed under the Act by requiring content providers of voice,
video, or data to be distinctly separate entities from transport
providers. This means that the local connection you have in your home or
business will be an onramp to the information highway and will not be
impeded by the interests of any single entity.
The Act allows the public to have open access to the information
highway at Commercial Points of Presence (CPOPs) where seamless
interconnections between local and interlocal networks are made. Each
CPOP will serve 10,000 users or less and sites will be identified by the
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) in accordance
with the Growth Management Act.
The Act ensures the process of locating the CPOP sites is in the best
interests of the local community. CPOP sites are neutral places not
controlled by any entity and are designed to encourage interconnection
between local communities and the world. The cost to implement and
operate the sites will be paid for by a pricing mechanism developed by
the WUTC. The WUTC will develop an application process whereby local
communities may create new CPOPs.
The Act provides a readable blueprint for the information highway to be
built to the specifications of the citizens of Washington. Genuine
competition within the telecommunications industry will promote choice,
cost effectiveness, and efficiency. CPOP centers will empower users and
providers with a workable forum in developing services custimized to the
needs of the individual communities.
The act guarantees the information highway will belong to the citizens
of Washington State and ensures that the citizens will not be a victim of
opportunistic monopolies taking advantage of outdated regulations.
for more information regarding this bill, contact:
--------------------------------------------------
Adam Feuer
adamfast@u.washington.edu
voice: (206) 996-0794
fax: (206) 782-5776
Jeffrey Sterling
jeffgs@netcom.com
voice: (206) 368-7679
fax: (206) 365-7970
