[Chapter-delegates] Why is ISOC is doing almost nothing to bring affordable Internet to America

[Patrick Vande Walle]

On 20/12/12 20:51, Dave Burstein wrote:
>
>    Before that, I was at ECTA Brussels where speaker after speaker
> pointed out European prices are often half what the Americans charge
> for similar. That's slightly exaggerated but the gap is clear. 
>

Indeed, European prices are lower, and usually we have a higher
bandwidth. This competiition was forced down the throat of the ISPs by
the EU. Strong regulations and strong monitoring of anti-competitive
behaviours are the key, as well as public money being invested in
mutualized infrastructures. From our experience, leaving it up entirely
to the "market"and the private sector does not work.

We now have a lot of ISPs, both small and larges ones, covering
different market segments. Dinosaurs eventually adapted themselves to
the new environment. However, this requires constant monitoring.
Otherwise, those companies would be up to their old tricks again. The
ETNO proposal to WCIT is just one example.

Patrick








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