Impact from Washington: How will national policy changes affect your campus? Wendy Wigen Garret Sern EDUCAUSE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference January.

Impact from Washington:How will national policy changes affect your

campus?

Wendy WigenGarret Sern

EDUCAUSEMid-Atlantic Regional Conference

January 12-14, 2005

Copyright Wendy Wigen and Garret Sern, 2005.This work is the intellectual property of the authors. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.

Why is Congress considering a rewrite of the Telecommunications Act of 1996?

What does this mean for your campus?

Hot Topics to watch in 2005

Communications as we knew it…

VOICEWIRED

VOICEWIRELESS

AUDIO/ VIDEO

BROADCASTTV/RADIO

VIDEOCABLE TV

Title IILAW Title III Title III Title VI

Communications + the Internet…

VOICEWIRED

+InternetAccess

VOICEWIRELESS

+InternetAccess

AUDIO/ VIDEO

BROADCASTTV/RADIO

VIDEOCABLE TV

+InternetAccess

Title II Title III Title III Title VILAW

Two Worlds

Telecommunications Service: (phone to phone)

Provides basic voice service for a fee

Highly regulated

• Behavior (anti-trust, consumer protection…)

• Revenue (USF, 911…)

Information Service: (computer to computer)

Provides enhanced communication service that involves data storage/processing i.e. Internet access, voice mail….

Unregulated

We haven’t regulated the Internet because we didn’t

know how to…Senator Cantwell

Prediction: VoIP is going to make them figure it out

VoIP:Telecom or Information Service?

The three types of VoIP: to regulate or not to regulate?

Computer to Computer: all Internet

Computer to Phone or Phone to Computer

Phone to Internet to Phone

Telecom or Information?

Computer to Computer: all InternetPulver DecisionInformation Service – no regulation

Computer to Phone or Phone to Computer

Phone to Internet to PhoneAT&T DecisionTelecommunications Service – full regulation

What is it ?

“VoIP breaks the mold.  It is voice as a data service.  Considered another way, the 1996 (Telecommunications) Act assumes that data applications operate on top of a regulated voice network.  VoIP, by contrast, delivers voice on top of an Internet protocol data channel, which can run on any type of digital network.”

….Kevin Werbach

If in doubt don’t regulate

“First do no harm”…Chairman Powell

But, what if a lot of people switch to VoIP?

What happens to:1. Law Enforcement Access (CALEA)2. Emergency 911 Service (Public Safety)3. Access for the disabled (Disabilities Act)4. Support for the Universal Service Fund 5. State revenue…. 15% (sin tax)6. Market competition (increase?

decrease?)

Where communications are going…

voice data video

wired

internationallong distancelocal

wireless

Packet-based

Ubiquitous

Communication

Where regulations are going… the “layered model”

phonecellular

cable

satellite

Content:text, speech, music, video, etc

Applications: web browsers, email client etc.

Physical: access and transport

modem, DSL, cable, fiber, WiFi, etc.

Logical:TCP/IP protocol suite

The Impact on Campus:why should you care?

Budgets:Costs will change: public services such as CALEA, E911, USF must be fundedDemand for new services will increase Loss of income (i.e. cell phones impact on long distance revenue)

Innovation:Stifled by regulationRegulations, if any, need to be carefully tailored to the Internet’s unique character

Without Vision, the People Perish- Proverbs

Without Vision, the people are stuck with DSL and Cable Modems

What Does Our Community Bring to the Table?

Vision of the Internet’s PotentialExperience Using Tomorrow’s Applications TodayDealing with the Practical Technical Challenges Associated with Incorporating the New Technology (ex. Ensuring E911 Access with VOIP)

A Vision for a National Broadband Network

Net@EDU Broadband Policy Group White Paper: “Broadband America: An Unrealized Vision”

http://www.educause.edu/BroadbandPricingGroup/929Three Key Principles:

Affordable Broadband AccessA New Regulatory StructureFederal R&D Support

Growth of Municipal Networks

Communities Tired of Waiting for Commercial Providers are Building Their Own NetworksHowever, Providers Crying “Unfair Competition! Supported By Taxpayer Money”Legislative/Legal Challenges

Supreme Court Case (Nixon vs. Missouri Municipal League)PA Law HB 30

Engaging Policymakers

Submitting Comments: Section 706; Broadband Over Powerline; IP-Enabled Services; Spectrum ReformMeeting with Staff at All Levels

Commenting on Proposed LegislationTestifying Before CommitteesProviding “Real Life” Examples of How OurCommunity Uses the NetworkOutreaching to District Offices

Forming Partnerships

Association Partners (Presidential Associations: ACE, AAU, AACC; Libraries: ARL; ALA)Industry (ITAA, CRA, USISP Association)State Focused Organizations (NGA, NARUC)Other Sectors (Healthcare, Manufacturing)

More Information

EDUCAUSE Policy Websitehttp://www.educause.edu/policy

Net@EDU Working GroupsBroadband Policy GroupIntegrated Communication SystemsWireless

http://www.educause.edu/WorkingGroupsandCollaborations/412

Thank You!

Wendy Wigen [email protected]

Garret Sern [email protected]