LIEBERMAN BILL TO PUSH NATIONAL BROADBAND GOAL

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., will add to an already cluttered list of pending broadband legislation when he introduces a bill this week that would require President Bush to set a goal for the deployment of high-speed Internet services and develop a road map for getting there.

A member of Lieberman's staff confirmed that the bill, to be dubbed the National Broadband Strategy Act of 2002, will be introduced as early as Monday. The Lieberman bill differs from Tauzin-Dingell (which would deregulate broadband) and Breaux-Nickles (which would create intermodal parity among broadband service providers) in that it represents a comprehensive solution, the staff member said.

“There are 30 to 40 issues relevant to broadband deployment,” he said. “The other bills only address piece parts.”

In addition to the previously mentioned bills, Sens. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings, D-S.C., and John “Jay” Rockefeller, D-W. Va., are pushing legislation that would kick-start broadband deployments, particularly to rural and underserved areas, via tax incentives.

In a white paper published in April, Lieberman reported the U.S. currently ranks fourth worldwide in broadband deployment.

However, the Lieberman bill is long on concept and short on details. The bill would require the Bush administration to foster adequate competition to generate the deployment of 10 to 100 Mb/s high-speed Internet services, though it does not specify a date or make specific suggestions for getting to that point. The president's report would be due to Congress within six months of enactment.

Breaux-Nickles would give the FCC 120 days after enactment to figure out how to create intermodal parity, but it doesn't provide any insight on how the commission should proceed.

The Lieberman bill also would push the administration for proposals designed to enhance demand for high-speed Internet services and provide incentives to facilitate the supply of broadband data services. This would include allocating federal resources, including federal funds, for research and development.

It is unlikely the Bell companies and other incumbent carriers would embrace federal assistance with open arms because federal money generally brings with it increased scrutiny and potential for regulation. However, Michael Boland, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for Verizon Communications, said the carrier welcomes Lieberman's effort.

“We're pleased that he recognizes the productivity boost broadband can bring to every part of the economy,” he said.

If the bill were enacted, it would galvanize the broadband deployment effort much like President Kennedy's “let's put a man on the moon” proclamation galvanized the space program, said Ron Cowles, telecom analyst for Gartner Dataquest. “The nature of the country is that it will step up and get in line to achieve the goal,” Cowles said.

Scott Cleland, CEO of Precursor Group, isn't convinced, though. “Broadband is no moon shot. A moon shot was hard; broadband is just expensive,” he said.

Cleland added that the Lieberman bill would have no better chance of enactment than Tauzin-Dingell and Breaux-Nickles because Senate rules make it much easier to derail legislation. “One person can stop the momentum,” Cleland said. “And there's no open path through Hollings' [Senate commerce] committee.”