Politech is the oldest Internet resource devoted to politics and technology. Launched in 1994 by Declan McCullagh, the mailing list has chronicled the growing intersection of law, culture, technology, and politics. Since 2000, so has the Politech web site.
Congress threatens to stifle TV-over-fiber plans
http://news.com.com/2100-1033_3-5678536.html
Bells' fiber plans spark political flame war
April 20, 2005, 2:19 PM PDT
Verizon Communications and SBC Communications' plans to wire American
homes with high-speed fiber connections may encounter regulatory
roadblocks, members of Congress suggested Wednesday.
Both companies are spending billions on fiber links that can carry
everything from Internet service to voice and video. Verizon's Fios
service already boasts speeds of up to 30 megabits per second with a
digital TV package expected later this year. SBC's similar Lightspeed
service is supposed to be available no later than early 2006.
These forays into digital TV are alarming television broadcasters and
some cable companies, which view fiber service as a competitive threat.
This week, for instance, Verizon announced that it plans to carry all of
NBC Universal's channels on Fios TV.
The emerging dispute over digital TV effectively opens up a new
political front in an already bitter war between the Bells and cable
companies for high-speed Internet customers.
[...remainder snipped...]
Posted by Declan McCullagh on Apr 20, 2005
in category economics
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