MEHLMAN PROMISES MODEST ADMINISTRATION STEPS TO PROMOTE BROADBAND
Bush Administration is working closely with FCC and NTIA to ease regulatory burdens to broadband deployment and free up spectrum, senior official said Fri. However, Administration contends there’s little need for broadband policy, Commerce Dept. Asst. Secy. for Technology Policy Bruce Mehlman told ALTS conference: “Rather than policy fixes, it’s going to be technology developments that get broadband to all Americans.” He dismissed idea that Administration would weigh in on either side of debate on Bell-friendly bill promoted by House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) and ranking Democrat Dingell (Mich.).
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Mehlman noted need for greater spectrum efficiency and said he was working closely with NTIA Dir. Nancy Victory (with whom he worked briefly at Wiley, Rein & Fielding) on that issue as Administration developed its position: “We're trying to do this as fast as we can.” Mehlman, who is chief technology adviser to President Bush, also said he was working closely with FCC, “making sure their regulations don’t cause uncertainty.” Broadband providers need regulatory clarity, he said, something also advocated by FCC Chmn. Powell (see separate story, this issue).
Since terrorist attacks, deployment of broadband has become even more important in U.S., Mehlman said. He said homeland security would be driven in large part by broadband technologies such as real-time airplane cockpit monitoring, airport security, offsite data backup, emergency information distribution and videoconferencing, as well as using IP services in emergencies when call volumes spiked on traditional phone networks. For that reason, Mehlman said, Administration was choosing to put premium on broadband deployment even though it was convinced that pace had not been as slow as many maintained. For example, he said broadband growth rate in U.S. was faster than adoption of VCRs, CDs and color TVs: “There’s no problem with the pace of broadband deployment at all.”
Mehlman made it clear Administration wasn’t taken with either side in Tauzin-Dingell debate. Noting that one week he received by e-mail dueling reports suggesting Tauzin- Dingell would either spur or destroy the economy, he predicted: “Neither side seems likely to make law any time soon.”
Administration does recognize there are policy barriers to broadband deployment, Mehlman said. One is right-of-way regulations by local authorities, with more than 30,000 local govts. capable of regulating fiber deployment. There are steps govt. could take to spur broadband, he said: (1) “Lead by example” by using broadband services in govt. agencies. (2) Encourage state and local govts. to develop “best practices” for rights-of-way, zoning, tower siting, building permits and other potential barriers to broadband rollouts. (3) Support international telecom policies friendly to broadband, which Mehlman said would be easier if President had trade promotion authority. (4) Work with content providers and peer-to-peer advocates to ensure file sharing can work legally on Internet in post-Napster world. Calling file sharing key application for driving interest in broadband, Mehlman said Commerce Dept. would host digital rights management conference in Dec. on subject.