Free Newsletter
FEATURES >> Top telecoms in government | Migrating from ATM to Ethernet WAN
CenturyLink opposes local NC broadband application
As the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utility Service (RUS) get set to award broadband stimulus grants, it was only a matter of time before incumbent telcos such as CenturyLink--who opted to not participate in the program--started raising their hackles against applicants in their respective regions.
Following similar protests by Comcast, CenturyTel is questioning Electronic Solutions' proposal to build 27 wireless antennas to bring broadband service to North Carolina's Person County. The tier 2 ILEC believes that the areas Electronic Solutions is building the network for are in areas that CenturyLink has already built out sufficient broadband facilities.
Given the somewhat murky meaning of what exactly 'unserved' and 'underserved' is has been a thorny issue for many communities and will likely be a key point of discussion as other incumbent service providers protest other pending applications.
For more:
- Telephony has this post
Related articles
Comcast protests broadband stimulus grant applications
Broadband stimulus: Clarity is needed, say service providers
NTIA, RUS delay broadband grant awards
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | November 18, 2009 - 3:39pm
CenturyTel can make any claim they want - they are the incumbent.
There is a difference in saying you can serve versus you are serving - something ILECs weasel word with.
The fact is they are protecting their monopoly position by filing protests. Anyone building a tower under the government program must make it open access to all - the last thing CenturyTel wants to happen as they have closed networks.
The government should ignore entrenched incumbents protests unless they have quantified their complaint to the same standards by census block as the applicant.
SHARE
WITH:
Comments (1) | Post a comment