These prices are so high because of the concentration of ownership of Internet backbone in the hands of a few long-distance and cable companies. Or, how about Dr. David Kushner of the Children s National Medical Center here in Washington. He testified before my Subcommittee that even in Northwest D.C., many impoverished residential areas. . . including the 100 block of Michigan Avenue . . . What this means, of course, is that those living in areas that are not near POPS, or that are not tied into a backbone facility via a gathering line are being disenfranchised of the fruits of our new economy. Emails back-up quickly .
Web pages freeze and fold . . .
So, we have this digital divide in the U.S. because many people don t have access to backbone, because of where they live, and the dial-up access that they are limited to affords them only narrowband Internet services. Now there are many out there who claim to know how to close the digital divide. The FCC has proposed a few things, like targeted InterLATA relief for the Bells to reach areas that clearly have no high-speed choices. Frankly, there are probably many long-term solutions to the problem that we have not even thought of yet. Well, today, as this hearing proceeds, the Bell Companies already have a great deal of fiber in the ground extending from most of these rural and inner-city communities to Internet hubs where critical backbone infrastructure exists.