US/ND-1: Where To Begin?
Where To Begin?
Mary Harley Kruter (mhkruter@patrick.mathernet.com)
Fri, 30 Aug 1996 11:58:08 -0400
In retrospect, how simple it must have been to develop and implement a
policy of universal service with one clearly defined
service--telephony--delivered by local monopolies! The task at
hand--developing policy and rules for universal telecommunications services
in a yet-to-emerge competitive market of carriers of these yet-to-be
defined "telecommunications services"--is difficult for me to grasp.
I read A.P. Picadio's contribution and the questions posed by the Common
Carrier Bureau for some basic understanding of the law itself and the
issues it raises with respect to rulemaking by the FCC. The issues I
gleaned from the questions the Common Carrier Bureau posed are primarily
those of developing a model for pricing telecommunications services on
which one may define a discount for schools and libraries. Other issues
focused on the rules or circumstances that determine whether or not a
carrier must provide the service and how it will be compensated by the
Universal Service fund.
Before one can grapple with the economic issues of pricing and discounting
a service, it is necessary to define the service. Is there a clear
definition or understanding of exactly what "telecommunications services"
means in the context of our discussion? If not, that's where I suggest we
begin.
Another seminar participant suggested defining telecommuncations services
as a data line in every classroom and library, making it as easy to deal
with as the concept of telephone access was in 1934. Defining
telecommunications service in this singular fashion has merit, but is it
enough to say data line in every classroom and library? Does this mean
wired, wireless, or both? How about voice and video?
Is it possible to define telecommunications services to schools and
libraries as provision of a pipeline (of sufficient capacity) connecting
every classroom and library to information infrastructures? Is it possible
to define sufficient capacity in such a way as to allow for "advances in
telecommunications and information technologies and services" as the law
requires? Is it possible to define this pipeline in such a way that all
carriers--telephone companies or cable companies or whatever company--could
provide the service in order to take advantage of what exists already in a
community, building on that to bring the most cost-effective services to
schools and libraries?
I'd love to "hear" some answers to my questions.
Mary Harley Kruter