January 21, 1999: 5:14 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. (NB) -- By Robert MacMillan, Newsbytes. Several large Internet service providers have petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to force cable companies to open their networks to competing voice and data providers.

In a letter sent yesterday to FCC commissioners, 18 ISPs told the FCC, "Limiting consumer choice in Internet access will block the diversity and innovation that are today the hallmark of the Internet and will introduce monopolistic practices into the open avenues of the information superhighway."

The letter is a pointed reference to AT&T Corp. [NYSE:T] and Tele- Communications Inc. [NASDAQ:TCOMA], both of which have agreed to merge for $48 billion, but have announced they will not open TCI's extensive cable network to other ISPs that want to use it, if the FCC approves the merger.

The ISPs that sent the letter claim TCI's cable network also should be open to fair competition, like the public switched network run by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) such as the Baby Bells.

"If cable operators control their broadband networks in a way that erodes the fundamental openness of the Internet, consumers will have fewer choices in products, services, features and price," the letter said.

"Open access is crucial to accelerating the adoption of high-speed Internet services, and remains a key factor in bringing American consumers the many benefits of broadband services," the letter added. "These benefits will not be fully or quickly realized if the providers of underlying, last mile, broadband transport services offer consumers only one choice -- their own affiliated Internet service provider."

AT&T and TCI have responded that the network exists as the result of their investment, and was privately built, unlike the government- decreed baby Bells that ran the existing wireline network much like a public utility.

The letter was sent by MindSpring Enterprises Inc. [NASDAQ:MSPG], the Washington Association of Internet Service Providers, Teleport, MCI-WorldCom Inc., US West [NYSE:USW], America Online Inc. [NYSE:AOL], FlashNet Communications Inc., Internet America, Prodigy Communications Corp., Public Electronic Access to Knowledge (PEAK), the Oregon Internet Service Providers Association, ConnectNet, Rocky Mountain Internet, CyberNet NorthWest, Triax Internet Services, CyberRamp Internet Services, Qwest Communications International Inc. and Voyager Information Networks.

Source: "ISPs Ask FCC To Require Open Cable Access", CNNfm (Jan 21, 1999)