Wireless Connectivity

In an effort to stay competitive and generate revenue, many countries are trying to set nationwide broadband initiatives to increase network speeds and improve broadband solution offerings to their entire population. This is important as faster Internet speeds are essential for commerce and establishing economies of scale.

According to this recent PC World post, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC (News - Alert)) recently announced its plans to ensure universal access to broadband services throughout the U.S. The initiative will start with the FCC examining the possibility of new price regulations on the providers of special access services.

Special access services are those utilized by businesses and cellular companies for Internet access and are largely owned by AT&T and Verizon (News - Alert). Many users complain that prices are too high due to lack of competition. It is estimated that the two companies together control about 80 percent of this section of the broadband solutions market.

An FCC spokesperson relayed that the organization would table the idea of pricing flexibility until talk of developing a new framework for broadband solutions was finalized. The spokesperson advised that the goal of FCC restructurings was to maintain competition, reduce unnecessary red tape, and safeguard reliable broadband access for the customers of special access services.

The NoChokePoints Coalition is one group that supports FCC intervention. By ensuring competitive rates for the special access customers, it contends that billion dollar savings will be realized, which will attract new investors and jobs, resulting in better coverage for the un-served and underserved rural broadband markets.

For those offering broadband solutions, providing appropriate coverage to major cities is not a problem because the infrastructure is already in place. However, those living outside city limits are the ones who lack service. These areas either don’t have coverage at all or bandwidth is limited and coverage is pricey.

Actelis Networks has a solution to the problem – the introduction of its Broadband Accelerator (BBA) device. BBA is a cost-efficient solution because it runs over existing networks, with no change to infrastructure. It is effective because it allows for all the services that customers are demanding such as IPTV (News - Alert) and OTT video offerings.

The BBA is able to reach both the un-served and underserved markets for a reasonable cost due to the fact that it can run over regular copper phone lines. With BBA, broadband service can be implemented anywhere POTS service is available.

AT&T’s (News - Alert) senior VP of regulatory affairs, Bob Quinn, denied the need for FCC intervention stating that the majority of its special access services were slow connections anyway. (These allegations were denied by Sprint (News - Alert) and members of the NoChokePoints coalition.) Quinn said it made no sense to invest in copper-based services as fiber is the way of the future. He equates the move with going back in time and said over time it would result in fewer jobs and poorer broadband coverage.

Others argue that while laying fiber has many benefits, it is a project that is too costly and time consuming to currently implement on a wide scale. 

Mike Doyle of the U.S. House of Representatives says that it’s not about the carriers – the decision for FCC involvement in adjusting rates for special access is ultimately centered on what’s best for consumers of broadband solutions.




Edited by Stefanie Mosca