Interesting research to report today about “value-added” broadband services: according to UK market research group Point-Topic, such services-which include VoIP, security, online gaming, home networking, music downloads, and video services-generated a whopping $26 billion worldwide in 2007. That’s nearly 30% of total broadband revenues, including subscriptions.
I talked about home security as a valuable add-on service for broadband providers and their customers in an episode of Broadband Now earlier this summer; you can check it out here.
OPASTCO [ed: and USTelecom] member EATEL, located in Gonzales, La., may be in need of outside assistance to help with restoration of phone, data and video services. Eatel explains that most of the recovery would consist of repairing or replacing fiber and copper aerial cables, repair or replacement of copper and fiber drops, and repairs of services beyond the demarc.
Companies offering to provide assistance should contact Charles Babin, EATEL’s manager of external relations, at 225/621-4287 or charles@eatel.com.
The FCC issued a public notice yesterday to announce that “Bureaus and Offices of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have been granting hurricane-related requests for emergency Special Temporary Authorizations (STAs) to communications providers.” The agency will release daily updates
The FCC released an announcement today indicating that they’ve received phishing complaints from various parties who are trying to pay their regulatory fees to the agency.
The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has received complaints that nongovernment entities may be using Internet sites to misdirect parties seeking to submit their regulatory fee payments. The complainants have alleged that these non-government websites are attempting to collect financial information.
The announcement went on to encourage those paying regulatory fees to do so only through the Commission’s authorized site at www.fcc.gov/feefiler.
One of the most compelling arguments for refraining from net regulation is that there is sufficient competition in the broadband for the market to deal with network management procedures the public won’t tolerate. Naysayers like to challenge the proposition of sufficient competition, but The Wall Street Journalpointed out something interesting today that demonstrates pretty clearly what people in the broadband industry already know: competition is fierce in broadband provision, and consumer prices are being pushed down because of it.
As the article indicates, competition in broadband is multidimensional. There’s competition between similar companies, such as AT&T and Verizon; competition between platforms, such as cable, DSL, satellite, and wireless; and even competition within companies between different technologies-Verizon has slashed DSL prices as it loses DSL customers to its own FiOS offerings.
Competitive pressure in the broadband market is clearly working for consumers. It’s a shame more people don’t also see the value of competition as companies work out new network management business models in response to growing demand.
Registration rates increase on September 8 for the Disruptive Technology, Demanding Consumers and Your Broadband Future USTelecom’s Executive Business Forum to be held October 1 - 3 at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in Silicon Valley. Reserve your accommodations by September 8th to guarantee the special rate. Bring your leadership team and leave with fresh ideas and new perspectives that can inform your company’s strategic decision making. You can learn more about the forum here.
As we’ve reported in our newsletter Crossroads Express (members only), a group of small, rural, wireless CETCs filed a petition for reconsideration with the FCC on the agency’s order imposing a cap on funding to the high cost portion of the Universal Service Fund. The group’s petition was the only one submitted to the FCC opposing the order. In an ex parte filed on Friday, however, the group withdrew its petition with no explanation. It seems logical to conclude that the group is instead opting to challenge the order in court, although that’s just speculation at this point. Because implementing the cap has been an important goal of USTelecom, we’ll be sure to keep you posted on any developments.
As an unseasonably cool August comes to a close in Washington, there are a number of telecom and Internet related hearings tentatively scheduled for September. The Senate Commerce Committee has rescheduled a hearing on S.2998, the Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act, for September 10, and we’re also expecting the announcement of hearings on broadband demand and mapping, wireless issues, and the upcoming DTV transition. As always, USTelecom will be sure to keep you posted on hearings, legislation, and other developments in the industry here on the USTelecom blog.
Last night, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that covers the implementation of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008. I spoke a bit about the issue in last week’s Vidcast. We’re currently looking over the NPRM to see what it includes, and we’ll be sure to give you an update when we’ve finished.The FCC is statutorily obligated to issue regulations to implement the bill no later than October 21, so the agency has abbreviated the standard comment cycle a bit. Comments on the NPRM will be due 12 days after publication in the Federal Register (which has not yet occurred) and replies 20 days.
As the Democratic National Convention gets underway in Denver and the Republicans prepare to head off next week to Minneapolis, it’s been interesting to see how broadband is changing the nature of campaigns. From state of the art campaign websites with a host of multimedia features to important announcements to supporters via text messages, the digital electoral battle is a more critical component of the presidential campaigns than it has ever been before.
USTelecom is looking at how broadband and digital communications are helping to shape this year’s elections, both on our interactive video wall and in the newest edition of Broadband Now, which you can see right here on the USTelecom blog:
