Citation
(2004), "Higher education comments on possible FCC regulation of Internet services", The Electronic Library, Vol. 22 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/el.2004.26322eab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Higher education comments on possible FCC regulation of Internet services
Higher education comments on possible FCC regulation of Internet services
EDUCAUSE has filed a comment with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) arguing that any regulation of Internet-based services, in particular, voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP), should recognize and treat the Internet as a unique technology, distinct from the heavily regulated telephone industry.
The comment suggests that the public’s acceptance and migration to Internet services offer an opportunity for the FCC to break from the burdensome rules of the legacy telephony world and provide for a rapid yet thoughtful transition to an IP-enabled environment.
According to Wendy Wigen, an EDUCAUSE policy analyst, “Because so many higher education institutions are providing or are planning to provide VoIP and other advanced IP services in the future, it is important that whatever regulations are developed be based on an IP-centric model that ensures this new technology remains vital and innovative.”
The comment specifically recommends that:
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regulation of the Internet should be based on an IP-based model that allows for the separation of the services from the physical infrastructure;
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the Universal Service Fund be updated and refocused on the goal of achieving universal broadband access; and
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while public services such as 911 and access for the disabled are currently available through VoIP and hold promise to offer greatly enhanced capabilities, new revenue models to support them are necessary.
Signatories of the EDUCAUSE comment include the American Council on Education (ACE) and Internet2.