ManyMedia

Defining the term “broadband” is hard enough, given the various competing interests working to have the FCC see things their way. But defining the term by identifying exclusionary uses is, well, AT&T. Ars Technica was on top of this filing, and wrote up their concerns in AT&T to FCC: gaming is not “broadband,” but an added service. Specifically, AT&T is instructing the FCC to disallow certain uses of your Internet access, specifically online gaming, as part of the defining what “broadband” is.

They WHAT? That’s right, their testimony advises the FCC that AT&T knows best what we should do with our Internet access.

In testimony submitted to the FCC, AT&T advises that they (by way of the government) need to define what we can (and shouldn’t) do with our Internet access:

Specifically, the Commission must first define the discrete set of applications and online capabilities that must be made available to all Americans to achieve the Recovery Act’s goals.  As discussed below, for residential customers those services should include basic web-browsing capability, email, and online services ….  Thus, the task at hand really is not about “defining broadband” in the abstract.

The testimony continues (with my emphasis):

There are a host of aspirational broadband services that are beginning to emerge in this country, as well as myriad sophisticated applications involving streaming video, real-time voice, and the like.  All are no doubt “broadband” services.  But for Americans who today have no terrestrial broadband service at all, the pressing concern is not the ability to engage in real-time, two-way gaming, but obtaining meaningful access to the Internet’s resources and to reliable email communications and other basic tools that most of the country has come to expect as a given.

So AT&T wants to be free to deliver itty-bitty “broadband” to the rural folks.  AT&T is redefining “access” to meet a more traditional incumbent monetizing strategy: set sites low by defining a bare minimum, then find “aspirational” uses that they can bill extra for. The Ars article is worth a read. However, lessons can be learned from gamers that benefit corporate boardrooms as well. John Hagel and John Seely Brown wrote an article in last January’s BusinessWeek: How World of Warcraft Promotes Innovation. The article describes how various elements of online gaming can benefit the business mindset.

Companies seeking to thrive in a world of increasing uncertainty and accelerating change will need to foster this disposition among their own executive team and employees. They would be well advised to take a closer look at World of Warcraft, both in terms of the approach taken to foster this disposition and as a potential recruiting ground for employees who can bring this attitude and approach into the company.

AT&T isn’t looking broadly at providing access to the Internet. This is an example of Not Neutrality. AT&T has a plan, and your dreams may not be part of it.

Content, Life, Network, Policy access, ATT, broadband, definitions, FCC, Internet, Net Neutrality, online gaming, Policy

This video is Gigi Sohn with Public Knowledge talking about why the FCC is looking into what’s going on between Apple and AT&T. The Consumerist published the FCC letters to Apple and AT&T. Entrepreneur and telecom pundit Bob Frankston added an interesting comment to a (barely formatted) mailing list about why the historic Hush-a-Phone decision is applicable.

On a related note, Jason Calcanis wrote a widely circulated piece, The Case Against Apple-In Five Parts. It seems that Apple is the new Microsoft, and AT&T is, well, the same old AT&T as it was before. The more things change, the more they stay the same. I hope this matter is interesting to watch.

Devices, Network, Policy Apple, applications, ATT, FCC, hush-a-phone, Policy, tying

Has Divestiture Worked?
A 25th Anniversary Assessment of the Breakup of AT&T

This looks like a fascinating–albeit short–event. Three panel discussions and a great lineup of speakers on the agenda. If you’re in New York, I highly recommend going.

UPDATE: If you’re not in New York, here’s the link to the stream! (Excellent, thanks!)

Events, Network, Policy, Scenarios ATT, controlling network, divestiture, Network, telecom

Friend and telecom Prosultant David Isenberg wrote an interesting post on this topic some time ago. He just published it on his isen.blog.

In the article, David reminded me that we are generally unaware of how our data is being “routed” to certain data centers where certain Three Letter Acronyms, arms of the U.S. Government, had access to everything that was passing over the network. What I found most interesting about this article was the candid way that David illustrated how things work:

I had one experience that indicates the potential success of such a modus operandi. I once got a call from a staff member of a U.S. Senator who somehow knew that I — a lowly Member of Technical Staff — was working on a project that included a facility in his state. The Senator needed a favor from AT&T. He asked me if I would help. I told my boss; a call from a Senator is a big thing. I don’t know who my boss talked to, but the Senator got his favor.

In this case, there wasn’t anything that smacked of corruption or illegality; all I’m saying is that things happened a lot faster than they would have if they’d gone through normal channels. I was a bit too skeptical to be classified as a “friendly.” Then again, this was an isolated incident, not a systematic program.

David ends his post with a very plausable Scary Scenario. It’s just a matter of time.

Content, Network, Policy, Scenarios ATT, illegal wiretapping, politics, telecom, US, Verizon, wiretapping

Two news summaries/perspectives on an impending merger:

CINGULAR, VODAFONE SHOW THEIR CARDS TO AT&T

Expect to see news by the end of the day that Cingular Wireless and
Vodafone have made official bids for AT&T Wireless. There is a 5pm deadline
for bids today and the board will consider offers this weekend. They are
currently six national U.S. wireless carriers, but price and marketing wars
have eroded profits. ”Cingular is by far the most likely buyer here, with
a straightforward deal, for a whole variety of reasons,” said a Goldman
Sachs report out Thursday. Goldman cited Cingular’s ability to generate
greater ”synergies,” such as cost cuts, for the best investor returns.

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040213/5924807s.htm

CELLPHONE MERGER CURE

When cellphone prices drop because of competition, the historical cure has
been to merge with another company and losing a competitor. But that remedy
may not work any longer because of challenges from new technologies and a
rush of new entrants into the market. Mergers would likely have to shrink
the field of providers in half before they lead to higher prices and less
competitive behavior. One reason is that the big carriers sell their
services wholesale to resellers — like Virgin — who then retail to
targeted markets. Another factor is the growing popularity of Wi-Fi to
route calls over the Internet — and avoid conventional cellphone networks altogether.

Wall St Journal link

Network ATT, cell phone, Cingular, competition, merger, resellers, Vodaphone, wi-fi, wireless