Broadband: Breaking the digital gridlock
July 29, 2004, 4:00 AM PT
This is the second of a special News.com series that will attempt to set a realistic agenda on important issues involving technology, its business and relevant policies.
High-speed Internet access is rapidly evolving from a Web-surfing luxury into an everyday necessity. But the development of broadband remains stunted by market uncertainty and mind-numbing bureaucracy.
This special series identifies the crucial elements of any policy agenda aimed at building a national broadband network. In its examination of the issue's many complexities, the report includes a CNET News.com-Harris Interactive Poll of about 1,000 Internet users nationwide.
Day 1
From public safety to health care, broadband is becoming a key tool.
Day 2
Drastically different rules are needed for true competition.
Day 3
Washington can learn some valuable lessons from Seoul.
Day 4
Wireless and other networks pose new challenges to the duopoly.
Bandwidth roundtable
Opinions from the worlds of business, labor and technology.
Video
Doctors tap broadband to monitor patients remotely.
- 1996
- Congress passes Telecommunications Act
- Telcos complain to Feds about VoIP
- Bell companies start DSL trials
- @Home, Road Runner launch cable modem services
- 1997
- US West debuts commercial DSL service in Phoenix
- Microsoft invests $1 billion in Comcast
- @Home goes public
- Covad launches $90 DSL in San Francisco
- 1998
- AT&T buys TCI for $48 billion
- Oregon regulators tell @Home to share lines with other ISPs
- Bells tell FCC they shouldn't have to share DSL lines. ISPs disagree
- 1999
- @Home merges with Excite in $6.7 billion deal
- Independent DSL providers, led by Covad, go public
- AT&T buys MediaOne cable company
- Judge rules that AT&T must share cable networks with ISPs
- SBC launches $6 billion DSL project
- Excite@Home tops 1 million subscribers
- Sprint, MCI buy "wireless cable" businesses
- 2000
- AOL buys Time Warner
- DSL providers drop prices to match cable
- Federal appeals court says AT&T doesn't have to share cable network with ISPs
- AT&T announces it will split apart
- Telecom downturn undercuts broadband providers
- 2001
- U.S. auctions spectrum for mobile broadband
- SBC begins fiber-to-the-home tests
- SBC buys Prodigy.
- Metricom's Ricochet wireless network folds
- Excite@Home goes bankrupt
- Comcast buys AT&T Broadband in $72 billion deal
- Covad declares bankruptcy, emerges intact
- 2002
- AOL's rocky transition to broadband undermines giant
- Broadband companies begin offering tiered price, speed plans
- FCC says cable companies don't have to share networks
- FCC approves low-orbit satellite broadband services
- Yahoo, SBC join forces on DSL
- Intel, AT&T, IBM form Cometa Wi-Fi coalition
- 2003
- FCC begins inquiry into broadband over power lines
- Broadband price war for consumer business
- FCC overhauls rules, says Bells won't have to share fiber networks
- Court rebuffs FCC, says cable might have to share networks
- Verizon unveils major fiber-optic investment plans
- VoIP businesses move into mainstream
- U.S. broadband subscribers number reach 28 million
- 2004
- Court rules states can block municipal broadband projects
- EarthLink offers wireless and power-line broadband access
- Cometa Wi-Fi coalition shuts down
- SBC announces $6 billion fiber broadband project
- Bush, Kerry make broadband a campaign issue
- IEEE approves WiMax standard
Editors: Mike Yamamoto, Karen Said Copy editors: Zoë Barton, Scott Martin, Yvonne Guzman, Natalie Weinstein, Jon Skillings Design: Andrew Lottmann, Ellen Ng Production: Andrew Lottmann, Mike Markovich
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