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1996 Telecom Act made life betterBy David Wittwer and Drew Petersen
Consider how your life as a consumer or small business owner has changed for the better. In 1996, you likely had one, and only one, local phone provider. Now you have several providers to choose from. Likewise, you had myriad long distance options, but you were probably paying upward of 20 cents a minute for domestic calls, and that was if you subscribed to a large volume calling plan. Now, long distance prices have been sliced drastically, and long distance calls often are free. Wireless service in the late '90s, reserved primarily for the well-heeled business customer or as a personal safety option, is now pervasive; coverage areas have expanded and prices have fallen dramatically. As for video, back in '96, you had the cable company with limited channels, annual price increases and very little innovation. Further, satellite up-start providers presented only modest competition offering a cable TV alternative without access to local sports or the evening news. Today, those satellite TV providers have secured access to sports and local channels, while virtually every telecommunications company is exploring entering the video business. Technological advances such as personal digital video recorders (DVRs), devices that allow consumers to watch entertainment programming when it is convenient for them, are now commonplace. Moreover, we are all headed toward a high-definition world where picture quality is second to none. Perhaps most importantly in 1996, the availability of the Internet was limited to the "technological hobbyist" or those living in upper-class neighborhoods who could afford dial-up access. Today, for about the same price as slow dial-up, the balance of Wisconsin residents have access to high-speed Internet products from multiple providers. Competition, technological innovation, economic development and job creation have been the hallmarks of the 1996 Telecom-munications Act. As federal lawmakers begin reviewing the status of the Telecom-munications Act, they would do well to let the existing law take its course and refrain from doing a substantial overhaul of our nation's telecommunications landscape. It's taken upward of 10 years for progress, competition and innovation to arrive; we shouldn't discard it and legislate unnecessary policies masquerading as solutions to problems that don't exist. A better approach would be for state government to drive the next series of telecommunications laws - ensuring that policies good for Wisconsin can be implemented, rather than having a one-size-fits-all approach constructed in Washington. State policymakers, led by Assembly Utilities Committee Chairman Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay; Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon; and Senate Economic Development Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, have recognized the importance of telecommunications in spurring economic growth in our state. To that end, they have introduced the Rural Broadband Deployment Act of 2006, which offers targeted tax exemptions and grants/loans to communications companies who make investments in broadband technologies in areas of the state that currently lack access to high-speed Internet technologies. Undoubtedly, this will make Wisconsin more competitive with our Midwestern neighbors. Additionally, the Wisconsin Legislature should consider passing legislation enabling traditional telecommunications carriers, companies like TDS, the ability to enter the video entertainment marketplace. New entrants are investing in technologies that allow consumers to watch what they want, when they want it and not be held hostage to decisions made by programmers thousands of miles away. If local companies are given the incentive to invest in networks, prices will fall and consumers will reap the benefits. As a telecommunications user, consider for a moment what the next 10 years has in store. If video entertainment competition, ubiquitous broadband deployment, lower prices and better service are things you value, contact your state legislators and Gov. Jim Doyle and encourage them to engage on these pro-consumer communications matters. Identifying areas for improvement and developing technology solutions at the state level will be far more beneficial for Badger state residents than a long, drawn-out federal reform plan. madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
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