[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 60441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25983]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[GN Docket No. 00-185; FCC 00-355]


Inquiry Concerning High-Speed Access to the Internet Over Cable 
and Other Facilities

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry.

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SUMMARY: On September 28, 2000, the Commission released a Notice of 
Inquiry in this docket seeking comment on issues surrounding high-speed 
access to the Internet provided to subscribers using cable television 
infrastructure, or so-called ``cable modem services.'' The Commission 
inquires into what regulatory treatment, if any, should apply to cable 
modem services and the cable modem platform used in providing such 
services, and what impact such treatment will have on other providers 
of high-speed services. The underlying purpose of issuing this Notice 
of Inquiry is to create a national legal and policy framework for cable 
modem service that will foster competitive deployment of high-speed 
services by all providers and instill a degree of regulatory stability 
that will encourage investment in all high-speed networks. In this 
proceeding, the Commission will examine whether to continue its present 
market-based approach and whether and how to introduce a national 
policy framework for regulating high-speed services.

DATES: Comment must be filed on or before November 27, 2000. Reply 
comment must be filed on or before December 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Parties who choose to file comments or reply comments should 
file an original and four copies of each filing with the Commission's 
Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, Room TW-B204, 445 12th St. SW., Washington, 
DC 20554. Parties should also serve: (1) Johanna Mikes, Common Carrier 
Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 5-C163, Washington, DC 20554; (2) 
Christopher Libertelli, Common Carrier Bureau, 445 12th Street SW., 
Room 5-C264, Washington, DC 20554; (3) Carl Kandutsch, Cable Services 
Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 3-A832, Washington, DC 20554; (4) 
Douglas Sicker, Office of Engineering and Technology, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Room 7-A325, Washington DC 20554; (5) Robert Cannon, Office of 
Plans & Policy, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 7-B410, Washington, DC 
20554; and (6) the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 445 12th Street, SW., CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 857-3800, with copies of any documents 
filed in this proceeding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Johanna Mikes or Christopher 
Libertelli, Attorneys, Policy and Program Planning Division, Common 
Carrier Bureau, at (202) 418-1580, or via the Internet at 
[email protected] or [email protected], respectively; Carl Kandutsch, 
Cable Services Bureau, at (202) 418-7200; Robert Cannon, Office of 
Plans and Policy, at (202) 418-2030; and Douglas Sicker, Office of 
Engineering and Technology, at (202) 418-2478.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document is a brief description of the 
Commission's Notice of Inquiry adopted September 28, 2000, and released 
September 28, 2000. The full text of this Notice of Inquiry is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Information Center, CY-A257, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. The full text also may be obtained through the 
World Wide Web, at http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/Notices/index6.html; or may 
be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), CY B-400, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC. Further information may also be obtained by calling the 
Common Carrier's TTY number: (202) 418-0484.

Synopsis of the Notice of Inquiry

    1. The purpose of the Notice of Inquiry is to develop a factual 
record regarding the high-speed services provided by cable operators 
and the type of access sought by unaffiliated Internet Service 
Providers (ISPs), as well as the extent to which such access is 
necessary to benefit consumers or otherwise achieve desired policy 
goals. The Commission invites comments on alternative approaches to 
classifying cable modem service and the cable modem platform under the 
Communications Act and the implications of adopting each such 
classification.
    2. The Commission seeks comment on various issues related to ``open 
access,'' including how to define the concept, what initiatives have 
taken place to date, and how market-based and regulatory approaches may 
affect the availability of high-speed services. The Notice of Inquiry 
asks whether achieving open access is a desirable policy goal and, if 
so, whether the Commission's existing policy of regulatory restraint 
will adequately achieve open access or whether the Commission should 
adopt a regulatory, or prescriptive, approach.
    3. It also inquires whether the Commission's legal and policy 
framework for cable modem service or the cable modem platform should 
apply to all providers of high-speed services. The Notice of Inquiry 
invites comment on technical and operations concerns associated with 
achieving open access, and asks whether the Commission should pursue 
any further course of action, such as continuing its current approach 
or exercising its rulemaking or forbearance authority.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-25983 Filed 10-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P