Open Access

FCC's Martin wants Comcast to pay for P2P blocking

Jim O'Neill — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:21:12 -0400

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is planning on taking Comcast to the woodshed for violating FCC principles that guarantee consumers open access to the Internet. The nation's largest cable company is having its feet held to the fire for "arbitrarily" throttling P2P traffic and not telling consumers it was doing so, reports the Associated Press. And Martin wants the company to pay. He told the AP he'll recommend a fine to commissioner-to be voted on Aug. 1--and require Comcast to provide details of just how extensive its blocking was and what the company's future traffic management plans are.

"The commission has adopted a set of principles that protects consumers' access to the Internet," Martin said. "We found that Comcast's actions in this instance violated our principles."

Comcast told the AP it doesn't block content or services and that the "carefully limited measures that Comcast takes to manage traffic on its broadband network are a reasonable part" of the company's strategy to ensure all customers receive quality service. That's a bit of an about face from its statements last fall when it said it was "slowing down" some file transfers.

If the FCC follows through with a fine, it'll be the first time it's actually enforced open-access rules and could be a bellwether for the net-neutrality advocates--and a shot across the bow of all Internet providers who manage their network traffic (c'mon, you know who you are) by blocking or slowing big file transfers.

For more:
- See the AP story

Related articles:
Verizon's not alone in its throttling Throttling report
Comcast and BitTorrent have said they are collaborating on solutions to throttling Comcast report
BitTorrent last month seemed to be following its own path toward solutions BitTorrent report
Bell Canada facing net neutrality fight after throttling

Telecom Italia chief says telco isn't looking to merge

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

"No," and "no." That's what Telecom Italia Chairman Gabriele Galateri had to say about rumors Italy's largest phone company was issuing new shares and considering a merger with Telefonica. "There are no projects to merge with Telefonica, and there are no projects for a capital hike," he said in a speech for the firm's annual shareholder meeting.

TI's been hurt by competition (what telco hasn't) and has seen its share price plummet 41 percent in the past 12 months as its earnings for 2007 gassed 19 percent compared to a year earlier. At least one major investor--whose family owns a 4.5 percent stake-has been campaigning for TI to push Internet and wireless sales harder, then look at a Telefonica deal.

For more:
Read the Forbes story

ALSO NOTED: Golden Telecom shines; Tejas likes PBT; and much more...

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:59:51 -0400

> Russia's Golden Telecom shows revenue and net income leaps in its last earnings report before its buyout by VimpelCom. Article

> Indian vendor Tejas becomes the latest firm to promote provider backbone transport. Article

> Verizon sets out details of its wireless open access plans. Article

Broadband up in Europe, Reding still irate

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:59:56 -0400

We haven't heard from Viviane Reding, the European telecommunications commissioner, in a while, but she is again this week calling for further deregulation of incumbent telco practices across Europe. The latest call comes as the European Union released it tally of broadband adoption on the continent. The research showed that Europe added about 19 million broadband lines during 2007, the equivalent of about 50,000 households per day. Denmark has the highest broadband penetration in Europe, at 35.6%. Despite the growth, Reding said that more than 60% of the broadband market share in member countries was in the hands of incumbent service providers.

For more:
- read this story at The International Herald Tribune

Related article:
- Mobile broadband up 154 % Article

ALSO NOTED: DT devises open access offer; Newport lands Nokia deal; and much more...

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> Deutsche Telekom files to open DSL network access to competitors. Article

> Session border controller vendor Newport Networks gets an OEM deal with Nokia Siemens Networks. Article

Hundt: Make broadband policy top priority

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:59:57 -0500

Telephony caught up with former Federal Communications Chairman and would-be wireless network entrepreneur Reed Hundt at the OFC/NFOEC event in San Diego. The exclusive interview that resulted is a tough analysis of broadband policy, universal service fund reform, the ongoing peer-to-peer traffic-shaping controversy and the uncertainty surrounding the final days of the 700 Mhz spectrum auction.

It seems that to Hundt an open-access broadband policy can solve a lot of problems, and that an industry commitment to 100 mbps access and clarity about the pricing and performance users can expect would mitigate the P2P controversy. The creation of an open, universally available broadband network also would make the universal service fund debate moot.

But, the real nugget of the interview comes at the end, where Hundt wonders why President Bush doesn't give telcos accused of wiretapping the Scooter Libby treatment.

For more:
- read this interview at Telephony

Related article:
- The FCC recently started to tackle universal service fund reform

Portugal's Sonaecom plans big FTTH build-out

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Sonaecom, a competitive carrier in Portugal, is joining Europe's thickening fiber-to-the-home crowd. The service provider said it plans to invest about $354 million to build an FTTH network that will reach about 25% of the country's population over the next three years. It will be the first major FTTH network in Portugal, and Sonaecom already has pledged that it will be an open access network.

Sonaecom, which currently has about 800,000 wholesale and retail wireline customers and about 240,000 DSL customers, actually tried and failed last year to acquire incumbent telco Portugal Telecom. Light Reading Europe notes that as FTTH action is increasing in Europe, it is usually the alternative carriers like Sonaecom that are taking the plunge first.

For more:
- check out this coverage at Light Reading Europe

Related article:
- CMC offers fiber connectivity Article

ALSO NOTED: Telecom Italia tries Open Access; Sprint to consolidate HQ; and much more...

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> Telecom Italia moves toward structural separation with launch of Open Access unit. Article

> Sprint Nextel will consolidate its headquarters at the long-standing Sprint office in Overland Park, Kan. Article

> Transferring of unused IPv4 addresses between providers could delay IPv6 adoption. Article

Crowe: Video 60-70% of Level 3 traffic

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:59:55 -0500

James Crowe, CEO of Level 3 Communications spoke at the Silicon Flatirons conference at the University of Colorado this week said that video traffic now accounts for between 60% and 70% of the carrier's IP network traffic, and that the growth trend will only continue to fill the capacious fiber network operators have busily invested in the last few years. Level 3 also invested much in content delivery networks to help manage that video load

He also told a crowd heavy in policy and regulatory types that he favors a watchdog approach to Net neutrality but that the watchdog should be the Federal Trade Commission, not the Federal Communications Commission. In addition, he predicted that economics will come to favor unbundled, open approaches to networks, devices and applications, rather than the closed system perpetuated-and subsequently aggressively challenged--in last year's launch of the iPhone.

For more:
- see this coverage at GigaOM

Related article:
- Level 3 is still recovering from a "stubbed toe" it injured during rampant M&A

Crowe: Video 60-70% of Level 3 traffic

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:59:55 -0500

For more:
- see this coverage at GigaOM

Related article:
- Level 3 is still recovering from a "stubbed toe" it injured during rampant M&A

700 Mhz won't change industry landscape

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:59:53 -0500

The 700 Mhz spectrum auction is scheduled to kick off later this month, and while Google has applied to bid, I don't think the end result of this auction will much alter the industry landscape. Big telcos and cable TV companies will get their spectrum, and use it to drive some interesting services (most notably the cable guys), but I think Google's participation will prove anti-climactic. I don't think Google wants to operate a network, and if it actually does acquire spectrum, I think a spin-off or or joint venture with some other network firm is more likely. Spectrum auctions are big events intended to open doors for new players, but they rarely turn out that way.

While the auction won't change the industry too much, the open access issue it has been coupled with could continue to change the game. Stay tuned for more announcements from wireless carriers proclaiming open access strategies.

A new phone steals the show

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

It's time for FierceTelecom's 2007 Year-End Review. As I looked back at the big stories of the past year, I realized I had the good fortune of not having to live up to any crazy predictions of forecasts I made at the beginning of the year. That's because FierceTelecom.com has been around for only about five months. Of course, plenty happened in the telecom industry in the first seven months of the year, but strangely (and fortuitously for our five-month-old publication) most of the big stories of this year either occurred in the last five months, or at least came to a head in the last five months after lengthy preambles.

The exception to that perception was the release of the iPhone, a piece of news that broke in the first half of the year, though just barely. In my year-end review, I'm giving the iPhone a special place above and just adjacent to my Top 5 Stories of 2007. The reason is mostly because FierceTelecom.com is primarily wireline-oriented and the iPhone is a wireless device. However, I think the iPhone's converged nature, timing and implications already are affecting how the telecom industry at large addresses content, broadband access, open access, security and fixed-mobile convergence, among other issues.

As for crazy predictions, as we look ahead at 2008, I will be required to stick my neck out a bit. You can read those predictions in this space on Jan. 2, 2008. For now, read my Top 5 Stories a 2007 below, along with some breaking news of the day at the bottom of our "Also Noted" section. I'll run more lists throughout this week, along with some picks and pans from our readers, so stay tuned. - Dan

Belgacom fights open access

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:59:55 -0500

Belgacom, the incumbent wireline operator in Belgium, is disputing a regulatory ruling calling for the carrier to open access to its broadband VDSL network to competitors. The telco says regulators failed to notice markets where other players are the dominating carrier, and also says it took the business risk to invest in its network and that other carriers who didn't take that risk shouldn't be allowed access to the facilities--a quaint, but valid argument. The tide is definitely shifting worldwide toward structural separation and open access.

In Italy, for example, regulators are close to concluding a review that may force Telecom Italia's structural separation. Can any telco be successful in fighting the trend?

For more:
- check out this article about Belgacom from TeleGeography
- read this piece about Telecom Italia in The International Herald Tribune

Singapore issues broadband RFP

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:59:53 -0500

The government of Singapore has issued an expanded request for proposals to build and operate a nationwide open-access broadband network for the island state that includes a $520 million grant for the winner. The government plans to name a company that would offer open wholesale network access to other carriers. Several companies, including incumbent telco Singapore Telecommunications, have been pre-qualified to bid on the project.

For more:
- check out this story in Light Reading

Singapore issues broadband RFP

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:59:53 -0500

For more:
- check out this story in Light Reading

Google to bid on wireless spectrum

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:59:57 -0500

Companies planning to bid on 700 Mhz wireless spectrum at federal auction in January need to confirm their intentions by the end of the day today, and the biggest question already has been answered. Google said it will bid in the auction, and if it wins spectrum, its new status as a wireless carrier could present a serious competitive threat to the wireless operations of major telcos.

Still, there's some question as to whether Google is serious. Some believe the company may bid just to assure that the big wireless carriers follow through on their promise to provide open access to their networks. Yet, even if Google doesn't really want to be a wireless carrier, can it bid half-heartedly, let the telcos win, and still save face competitively? Maybe saving face isn't all that important when you already could afford to buy the entire planet.

For more:
- read this report from Bloomberg.com

Related articles:
- Click here to read more Google-related news

AT&T: Bandwidth demand for real this time

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:59:55 -0500

Has the telecom industry gone from bandwidth glut to bandwidth gluttony in less than a decade? That's what many carriers believe, as they are boosting transport bandwidth, migrating to IP, upping broadband access rates (both upstream and downstream) and aggressively sizing up the next new broadband technology, whatever it may be. Count AT&T among the optimists, as CEO Randall Stephenson, in a speech in Silicon Valley, said current bandwidth resources won't be enough to handle explosive application growth to come. What do you believe?

Stephenson talked about AT&T's model for handling the growth to come, and also gave his two cents on Verizon's open access announcement earlier this week.

For more:
- check out this story in Light Reading

Related articles:
- AT&T made our list of Top 10 Service Providers on the Cutting Edge

SPOTLIGHT: Verizon Wireless pledges open access

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:59:52 -0500

Verizon Wireless announced today it will offer access from any device to any application by the end of next year, marking the end of the company's "walled garden" approach to mobile devices and apps. After Sprint, Verizon is the second major wireless carrier to make this pledge. Google and others have fought for open access, and while plenty of walled gardens still exist, Verizon's move could prove pivotal on an industry-wide scale.

For more:
- read the Verizon press release

France Telecom opposes Reding plan

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 06:59:55 -0500

European Union Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding is scheduled by early next week to file a completed proposal for a new pan-European telecom regulatory body, but French ILEC France Telecom is getting a jump on things by speaking out this week against the proposal.

The new EU body likely would force structural separation of incumbent telcos across Europe, and France Telecom says that will work against the EU's aims by actually discouraging future network investment. Reding's plan has drawn criticism from several carriers and even within the upper reaches of the EU, and you can bet that network equipment vendors who have been reporting declines in carrier spending also oppose the plan. More details to come next week.

For more:
- The International Herald Tribune has the Associated Press story

Our next poll: Net neutrality

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:58 -0500

It's time for our next reader poll, and with Comcast facing Net neutrality complaints filed with the Federal Communications Commission by several groups, we thought the timing was right to ask your take on this developing story.

Do you think Comcast, which admitted delaying some peer-to-peer traffic to better manage its network, is doing what any network operator has to do to maintain overall service reliability and quality in the broadband era? Do you think this is purely a cable TV company problem that shouldn't affect telcos? Or do you feel this is exactly the kind of turn of events that make stronger Net neutrality policy a major necessity?

Vote now at FierceTelecom.com, and feel free to e-mail me with further comments explaining your vote. Read more about this hot topic. - Dan