Don Janke, president of Internet Ventures Inc. Wednesday warned
the Internet industry at that failing to achieve leased access
of cable broadband facilities will result in long-term exclusion of
broadband access for Internet Service Providers.
Speaking at Spring ISPCON 99, Janke urged ISPs to rally around the leased access cause. IVI maintains that cable systems are
currently permitted to maintain a monopoly on access to their physical
plant for Internet services.
“The small to mid-sized ISPs who make up the bulk of the 5,000-plus
Internet service providers in this country would be particularly
affected.” Janke said. “If cable is permitted to retain its monopoly,
it is conceivable that only a handful of ISPs may exist in the
not-too-distant future.”
“It is imperative that this industry be united in this battle,”
according to Janke. “The cable industry is spending millions of
dollars to prevent competitive access, because they understand the
impact it could have on their core business.”
Janke added that ISPs need to become similarly cohesive and actively
pursue a level playing field with cable carriers by filing for leased
access.
IVI has applied formally for leased access carriage under Section 612
of the Communications Act as amended in four markets of Washington and
California.