Open Access to Cable Infrastructures Gains Momentum in San Francisco and Beyond

Strategic Insights -

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has voted in favor of supporting open access to cable infrastructures for competing Internet service providers, while allowing AT&T Corp. to acquire the local franchises of Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) without being required to open its cable network immediately. This decision comes as part of a broader trend, with communities across the country, from Northern California to Southern Florida, voting to require open access to cable infrastructure. The OpenNET Coalition, a group of companies lobbying for open access, sees this as a major victory, with Greg Simon, co-director, stating, "Open access continues to gain momentum."

Key Takeaways:

  • The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 11-0 in favor of an amended resolution supporting open access to cable infrastructures, while allowing AT&T Corp. to acquire TCI's local franchises without immediate network opening requirements.
  • The decision was made in response to a federal district court ruling that supported Portland, Ore., and Multnomah County in requiring AT&T to open the TCI network to competing ISPs.
  • AT&T filed a lawsuit against Broward County, which had required open access in its ordinance regarding AT&T's purchase of MediaOne, citing the Cable Act and the First Amendment as grounds for the challenge.
  • AT&T argues that open access requirements would reduce investment and delay new services, while GTE, the leading proponent of the Broward County ordinance, claims that new cable services would give consumers more choice.
  • The OpenNET Coalition sees the San Francisco decision as a major victory for open access, with Greg Simon stating that the momentum is growing across the country.

Statistics:

  • 11-0 vote in favor of the amended resolution by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
  • 4-3 vote in Broward County in favor of requiring open access
  • AT&T filed a lawsuit against Broward County, citing several sections of the Cable Act and the First Amendment
  • The federal district court ruling in favor of Portland and Multnomah County
  • Greg Simon, co-director of the OpenNET Coalition, sees open access as gaining momentum across the country

Sources:

  • Newsbytes.com
  • "AT&T Sues Broward County" by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com.