Conference explores Internet as viable medium

Last Thursday and Friday, cyber-law experts from across the country spoke at a conference on "Information Technology and Legal Regulation." The Institute for the Study of Information Technology and Society, part of the Heinz School, organized the two-day conference, which took place in McConomy Auditorium.

The conference covered current issues such as "Law and Technology in Cyber-crime and Homeland Security" and intellectual property in new technologies. On Thursday, two keynote speakers presented speeches on the Internet and its role in the telecommunications sector.

In the first presentation, Reed Hundt, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), spoke about the potential growth of broadband and the role of policy in influencing the development of broadband Internet communication. He first pointed out that the telecommunications sector currently makes up two percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which experts expect to grow to three percent by 2006. Statistics showed also that while cable television has experienced only a three percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 1995 to 2001, broadband has demonstrated a phenomenal 225 percent growth rate. In addition, a recent Commerce Department report found that 54 percent of Americans now use the Internet.

Hundt also presented that while the telephone took 38 years to achieve ten percent market penetration, narrowband (Internet connections in the range of a 56K modem) took only two years. With such rapid growth, the Internet holds potential for both consumers and businesses.

The next step in the Internet revolution is to bring broadband to more people, according to Hundt, who also speculates that almost all Americans presently using the Internet will connect to it through high-speed media. Hundt said that there is a large group of people who currently pay close to the cost of broadband for their narrowband connections, or would be willing to pay for broadband, but are waiting for broadband service to reach them. "We're absolutely at a point where government can play a role in expediting broadband," said Hundt.

One of the main challenges lies in bringing cable and broadcast content to the broadband arena. Hundt stated that government or regulatory groups could more easily help to accomplish the task. There isn't [currently] any pathway to move the broadcast business into broadband," said Hundt. With assistance from government and industry, broadband will continue its growth and continue to increase productivity.

In the second keynote speech, David Farber, former chief technologist of the FCC, discussed the technical aspects of wireless and broadband communications. Farber said that the spectrum used for broadcast communications is largely empty - most people do not need so many television channels. Meanwhile, the 802 spectrum, used for wireless computer communications, is crowded and current rules on interference are unclear.

Farber also criticized DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): "[it] has been, in my opinion, a slow, slow nightmare." He said that there are technical problems with DSL that limit its deployment.

The FCC, by enlarging the spectrum, can partially resolve problems with the wireless communications system. Farber also said that it is important for legislators in Washington to learn about issues in broadband communications and to enact policies that will aid broadband growth. Internet business and broadband communications could become a great asset to the economy. "The economics will be very attractive as we try to satisfy the demand," said Farber. | Last Thursday and Friday, cyberlaw experts from across the country came to Carnegie Mellon to speak at a conference on "Information Technology and Legal Regulation." Keynote speeches by Reed Hundt and David Farber covered policy and technological issues in Internet communications.