The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers - the professional body for electrical engineers, and the standards body for ethernet) released a policy statement, about 2 weeks ago, that includes some pretty strong statements, including: "Policy makers must ensure that Ethernet networks over fiber infrastructures capable of gigabit speeds complemented by broadband wireless technologies be fully considered and fairly evaluated for a prominent role in accelerating advanced broadband deployment in the U.S." The statement goes on to talk about economic conditions, impacts on existing carriers, recommendations re. government policy, etc. - with particular attention to the dangers of monopoly abuse by incumbents, and approaches to avoiding such abuse. The full statement is on-line at http://www.ieeeusa.org/FORUM/POSITIONS/broadband.html --- The chair of the group that drafted the policy statement was Alan McAdams, a professor of economics at Cornell, who, at one time was he Senior Staff Economist to the President's Council of Economic Advisors (under Nixon). The group included a pretty good cross section of technical and management talent from the telecom. industry, plus a few policy wonks. Some additional remarks from McAdams are on-line at http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Feb03/McAdams.AFN.ws.html >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Richard Shockey, Senior Manager, Strategic Technology Initiatives NeuStar Inc. 46000 Center Oak Plaza - Sterling, VA 20166 Voice +1 571.434.5651 Cell : +1 314.503.0640, Fax: +1 815.333.1237 <mailto:richard@shockey.us> or <mailto:richard.shockey@neustar.biz> <http://www.neustar.biz> ; <http://www.enum.org> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<