Market forces alone have not solved all of these problems in the past, nor are they likely to do so in the future. An open access cable platform, when coupled with proactive policies to implement Section 706, provides a promising option to spur investment in the network for delivering advanced services to the homes of all Americans. In addition, open access will facilitate a greater sharing of information across networks, ensuring that the potential benefits of advanced telecommunications services are not restricted to certain networks and, therefore, to certain end users. As previously stated, an open access cable platform is one essential means for achieving universal service and connecting each to all. Providing greater choice and opportunity for all ISPs would speed deployment and expand the choice of providers for consumers.
Open architecture is also essential to spur innovation on the Internet.
In contrast, closed telecommunication platforms violate this concept and, in fact, stifle innovation. What APT fears is that the Commission s current policies will result in considerable delay in achieving open access, adversely impacting the ability of many unaffiliated, non-contracting ISPs to compete and survive. This delay hampers the building of a common carriage framework so essential to the proactive policies recommended by APT to breathe life into the statutory commitment of Section 706. The present cable Internet market promotes closed networks, limits consumer access to information, and adversely affects interoperability. Therefore, it is clearly not in the public s interest for the Commission to exercise forbearance with respect to applying open access provisions to cable Internet services.