Wise Move on Internet Access

In the battle over high-speed Internet services, the term “open access” has returned to the Los Angeles lexicon. Today, City Councilman Alex Padilla will announce what may be the best method yet for preventing cable companies’ monopoly power over who can use their technology.

Padilla’s proposal would give the city plenty of time--18 months--to respond to the results of a number of legal battles on the issue. Within that same time window, federal officials ought to promulgate a nationwide policy that would end the necessity for piecemeal solutions by local governments and various courts.

Most Americans still access the Net by making a slow dial-up connection over regular telephone lines. Before some Internet sites fully load on your screen, you probably have enough time to grab a beverage and pick up that magazine you’ve been wanting to read.

High-speed Internet access via two-way cable lines, special telephone lines or wireless communications is different. Pages hit your computer screen at a speed similar to slowly flipping through a magazine. Control of high-speed Internet access is the prize that the giants of the digital age, like AT&T; and America Online, are fighting over with megabillion-dollar mergers and acquisitions. That’s because high-speed systems deliver full multi-media video and audio capability.

At issue is whether the cable companies will be compelled to allow “outside” Internet service providers open access to their lines or whether the cable firms will be allowed exclusive control. Washington’s King County is an example of what can happen when the latter occurs. Consumers there are charged an extra fee to gain access to an Internet service provider other than the one their cable company offers.

The Federal Communications Commission has a hands-off policy and opposes local government open-access mandates. But the policy has left a vacuum that has forced counties and cities to test the legal limits of local ordinances and regulations. Portland, Ore., Florida’s Broward County and other open-access governments are understandably leery of the old cable monopolies that led to paltry services at exorbitant prices. Their fears were no doubt heightened when Time Warner recently blocked viewer access to prime-time ABC television shows in its dispute with the ABC parent company, Disney.

Here in Los Angeles, Councilman Padilla has proposed making open access a requirement of franchise renewals when the 13 cable contracts come up in 2002. That will give the city time to see how the courts rule and whether the FCC will intervene, as it should. Padilla’s move deserves the City Council’s support.