Bills affect Internet access

By Marsha Haskell

The Missouri Legislature is currently considering two bills, House Bill 142 and Senate Bill 221, which would greatly enhance future economic development in our state. These bills are true economic drivers for Missouri's economy and help remove the cloud of uncertainty that has stalled capital investment in high-speed broadband networks in our state without costing taxpayers a dime.

As someone with firsthand knowledge of SBC and this legislation, I would like to set the record straight. I have worked for SBC for 23 years, I'm a resident of Cape Girardeau and am involved in my community. I have a great interest in the people in Southeast Missouri, and I want to see them succeed.

The proposed legislation is about the Missouri economy and Missouri consumers. The goal of the legislation is to extend the benefits of high-speed Internet access to consumers, schools and businesses throughout the state. Missourians shouldn't have to wait years for the same kinds of services consumers in other states are receiving today. This clear and simple legislation creates a more predictable environment for investment for telecom companies, which means increased job opportunities, increased tax revenue and other economic boosts for our state. It also means greater availability, choice and innovation in high-speed Internet and business services for Missouri families and businesses.

Broadband service is currently provided by four different technologies: cable, satellite, fixed wireless and DSL. Today only one technology -- DSL, which is offered by telephone companies like SBC -- is subject to regulation. Although the current broadband marketplace is competitive -- cable companies serve 70 percent of the market -- SBC has stopped investing in the deployment of broadband services due to concerns that regulators would require it to provide its services to competitors at below-cost rates.

Some critics of this legislation have said that it will lead to the end of voice competition -- which is definitely not true. This legislation is only about high-speed broadband service, not the traditional voice services SBC and other incumbents provide. Nothing changes the regulation of SBC's voice services offered to customers. Nothing changes for our voice competitors. The access that they have today will continue after the bill passes, as outlined in the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act. No state law can supersede any federal law.

This bill changes nothing for our competitors. It is about certainty. And again, this legislation is only about broadband services, not voice. Similarly, Internet service providers seeking to buy wholesale DSL transport services will continue to have access to the network, as they do today.

The Oklahoma Legislature passed a similar broadband certainty bill last year. In response to this new law, SBC announced new investment to bring DSL to customers in 37 additional rural and smaller communities as well as extend the reach of DSL in 25 additional communities. This deployment is scheduled for completion by the end of 2003. The millions of dollars invested by SBC in Oklahoma will bring consumers additional choice and will benefit the Oklahoma economy.

There is similar hope in Missouri. However, action is needed in the upcoming 2003 legislative session. Missouri shouldn't risk falling behind.

SBC wants to continue its partnership and its investment in Missouri. We have provided quality service to the state for more than a century. In 2002, the company invested nearly $1 billion in the Missouri economy. And with some fair degree of certainty, we hope to invest more in DSL. This legislation is about certainty and creating the economic environment to invest. It's about the future and our commitment to growth, to jobs and to providing the people of Missouri the opportunity to compete in this new environment. We're your neighbors and your friends, and we're committed to the communities we serve.

Marsha Haskell of Cape Girardeau is the regional director-external affairs for SBC Missouri.