As the telecom world shifts, so does the role of...
As the telecom world shifts, so does the role of states and that of regulation, panelists told regulators and staff Tuesday gathered at the NARUC Washington meeting to discuss the future of telecom, with a focus on NARUC’s new telecom…
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task force of state commissioners. CompTel Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Karen Reidy reiterated CEO Jerry James’ keynote message (CD Feb 5 p10) that states should oversee IP-to-IP interconnection agreements. “Bandwidth management will continue to increase,” said Home Telecom Senior Vice President-Corporate Operations Keith Oliver, who noted voice alone may no longer need the same regulation as before: “The gigabit home is coming.” CTIA Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Chris Guttman-McCabe observed how much regulation over wireless differs from state to state but said CTIA works with state legislators regardless “and that will continue,” IP transition or not: Such dialogue is “good for the consumers and good for the country.” D.C. Public Service Commission Chair Betty Ann Kane told him that those pro-consumer gestures often happen at the urging of regulators, citing specific examples. “Should regulation be looked at and removed when there’s competition? Yes,” said NCTA Vice President-State Government Affairs Rick Cimerman. He said lack of competition was the basis for regulation, then backtracked to specify he meant “economic regulation” when commissioners questioned him and cited counter-examples. USTelecom Vice President-Industry and State Affairs Robert Mayer pointed to Google Fiber regulation fears: “The decision to not provide traditional voice service as we know it was because the regulatory burden was too onerous and it discouraged investment,” he said. Cimerman said states will have a role but it may not be at the PUC level, and described himself as enormously optimistic for the U.S. tech future, in contrast to the pessimism he said he heard from some others. USTelecom’s Mayer predicted telecom competition will expand, while Home’s Oliver doubted landline broadband would have much competition. The Colorado Office of the Consumer Counsel’s Bill Levis advocated for a strong state role in ensuring basic service and emergency communications.