Top ISPs Foregoing Stimulus Funds
Top broadband service providers like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon are unlikely to apply for stimulus funds according to an article in The Washington Post. The first deadline for the stimulus funds is August 20, 2009.
Most of these carriers know the stimulus funds come with additional oversight including the Net Neutrality Bill. The top carriers claim the Net Neutrality rules would prevent them from managing traffic on their networks the way they choose. They clearly will have the same freedoms without the ability to take advantage of consumers nor discriminate against them under these rules.
The Net Neutrality Bill is clear when it says in Sec. 12 of the Broadband Policy-
“It is the policy of the United States-
To maintain the freedom to use for lawful purpose’s broadband telecommunications networks, including the Internet, without unreasonable interference from or discrimination by network operators, as has been the policy and history of the Internet and the basis of user expectations since its inception…”
In response to the arguments of top providers, the NTIA and U.S. Department of Commerce’s Rural Utilities Services, who are responsible for administering the grants and loans, said they will go back and look at the rules after the first round of funding is complete and will consider changing them for the remaining 3.2 billion in funding.
My hope is while looking at the rules again they will take the time to consider how those rules will affect the consumer and also smaller wireless companies trying to meet greater demand in the smaller communities of this nation.
With the top providers foregoing the stimulus funds, that leaves the door open for smaller wireless providers like TowerStream to submit their applications and use the funds under the guidelines set by the FCC.
With smaller wireless providers offering services across the nation, top providers could see a shift in customer profits and customer loyalty. Consumers are getting smarter and demanding fair treatment from companies who have in the past taken advantage of customer loyalty.
Related posts:
- Stimulus Fund Dispersal Tightrope
- Net Neutrality Causing a Debate Over Wireless
- McCain Blocking Net Neutrality
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