Ohio Regulators Must Ensure Equal Internet Access

[SOURCE: Cleveland Plain Dealer, AUTHOR: Kevin Cronin and Angela Stuber]
[Commentary] Internet access is economic development: The more robust and comprehensive the access, the better. Left on their own, however, phone companies will underinvest in rural and urban areas, denying opportunity to parts of Ohio. While California is in the preliminary stage of creating a $60 million fund and a $67 million charitable fund to address that state's disparities, Ohioans await a ruling from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The PUCO has received expert testimony regarding inequitable high-speed Internet (DSL) rollout in Ohio, but will the commission choose a positive solution? The pending SBC/AT&T merger and the Verizon/MCI merger are not in Ohio's best interests, especially those of poor urban and rural areas. With the power to approve the merger of telecom giants, the PUCO has a chance to follow California and require meaningful investment. The PUCO must evaluate whether the merger of telecom giants promotes the public interest. With evidence that rural and urban areas are left out, the answer should be an emphatic "no," unless the telecom giants commit to protect urban and rural opportunities. Without government requirements, the telecom giants won't invest products and services in low-income and rural areas, and Ohio would be left with imbalanced access to basic services. Today, high-speed Internet is critical for education, work, safety, government and the activities of daily life. While more capable, robust networks, immense Internet speed and additional services are exciting, if our cities and rural regions are left behind, Ohio will continue to struggle. Now is the time for the PUCO Commissioners to represent the best interests of all Ohioans. (The Ohio PUCO is expected to make a ruling on mergers today.)
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