Posted on: Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Communications must be in place for all

We have long argued that the emerging intersection of communications options, from the Internet through cable access, telephone service, wireless and other forms of "connectivity," offers great promise for consumers.

What is ahead are more ways to connect with one another in a competitive environment that should keep costs down and quality of service up.

What has been less well discussed is how this exploding free market of communications options will impact those at the base end of the communications revolution.

These are the folks who can barely afford the cheapest and less sophisticated systems.

Traditionally, this was dealt with through regulation. Telephone service providers, for instance, were obligated to provide certain basic services in exchange for their near-monopoly. This translated into such services as telephone services for the hearing impaired, 911 emergency services and so-called "lifeline" service to isolated areas.

How this will work in a deregulated world where telephone service is offered over the Internet and entertainment and data service is served up by any number of carriers remains to be seen.

Congress has begun to grapple with these issues with proposed regulations that, on one side, propose regulation of Internet telephony but in another ban such regulations.

We'd suggest it is time for state regulators, including those in Hawai'i, to take a pro-active and forward-looking approach to this emerging technological world.

It is important to remember that the gains we are making mean little if the least of us are left behind.