In the News

Closed Networks Hinder Internet Access

Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society has released its independent study of broadband access around the world, with partial support from the Ford Foundation. The findings of "Next Generation Connectivity" may inform the Federal Communications Commission's design of the National Broadband Plan, an outcome of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to strengthen the country's broadband infrastructure. This work builds on the foundation's Advancing Media Rights and Access initiative, which aims to ensure all people have access to diverse sources of information and that media policy decisions best serve the public interest.

Published in the Financial Times (subscription required):
October 17, 2009
By Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York

US reluctance to force telecoms and cable operators to open their networks to competitors has led to the country being overtaken in rankings of broadband penetration and affordability, according to a study for the Federal Communications Commission.

The study by the Berkman centre for internet and society at Harvard University could strengthen expectations of change in the stance held by the FCC for much of this decade, which contrasted with countries from the Netherlands to South Korea that have "open access" policies. It notes that open access has been "a closed issue in US policy debates" since 2002.

Read the complete article (subscription required) »

Read the study (PDF).

Visit the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University and follow @berkmancenter on Twitter.

Read the Federal Communications Commission press release.

Visit the FCC's Web site and blog about the National Broadband Plan, and follow @FCC on Twitter for the latest on the plan.