Canadian ISPs Win Cable Access Battle

Canadian cable providers must now share high-speed networks with ISPs,
according to a Canadian government decision.

The directive forced the cable companies to lease their
networks, a move which many say will bring lower costs and faster service,
according to published reports.

Cable companies said that million-dollar investments in infrastructure for
technology would be useless if the network building did not provide any
market edge, said IDG.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will
also require that cable providers must submit access rates and cost
information the the commission.

U.S.-based OpenNet coalition, which is leading the same argument against
American cable operators, also welcomed the decision.

A similar battle is heating up in the American courts, with ISPs demanding
access to cable networks. Last month, an Oregon court ruled that AT&T must
open its $55 billion Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) cable lines. Similar
court arguments are expected to be heard in San Francisco, Calif., Florida,
and Washington. The FCC is also involved in the wire wars.