Open access networks: 'A good cheap pipe’ for internet connectivity

The use of open-access internet networks to help close the country’s digital divide has excited many groups who see them as a viable connection strategy for communities where there is little fiber or competition between broadband providers, or where one incumbent provider dominates, as is the case in many cities. There are already some examples of successful open-access networks in the US, albeit driven by the local governments themselves. Researchers at the nonprofit New America’s Open Technology Institute found that Ammon, Idaho’s municipally operated open access network has made the city “one of the most affordable broadband markets in the country,” as its network has encouraged broadband providers to compete for residents’ business with lower prices and faster speeds. One reason some look favorably upon open access networks is that they encourage competition between broadband providers, which must compete with one another on the same infrastructure for the same customers. By encouraging that competition on a common network rather than having providers build their own infrastructure as the large incumbents do, communities can push companies to provide better speeds and services for their customers or risk losing their business. Ultimately, if telecommunications companies and providers do not have to focus on building their own infrastructure they can focus more on the “customer experience.”