Brookings: Three Lessons from the History of Digital Television for Broadband Policy Development

Three Lessons from the History of Digital Television for Broadband Policy Development

1. Today, as the FCC deliberates how to promote more robust broadband in the United States over the long term, it is worth remembering a few lessons from the digital television transition. First, those who support what has been known as an “all-fiber” diet for broadband may well be like NHK in retrospect—fast movers but ultimately slower in what surely is a marathon race.
2. Second, FCC decision-making that reflects a static rather than dynamic technological view may be quicker to complete in a rulemaking proceeding, but ultimately may be short-sighted once certain premises change--such as how users actually trade off various types of fixed and mobile broadband experiences.
3. Third, as with digital television, there are powerful market forces at play that align with, rather than undermine, the public interest. Telecom, cable and content companies all are investing billions of dollars to enhance customer experiences and provide the widest choice of broadband options; those that choose to discriminate as a business strategy will be doing so at their own peril, reverberating in lackluster financial performance.