In that country and others, network companies are investing billions or trillions of dollars for higher-speed connections than are typically seen in the United States, as well. Korean officials said that by 2005, 13 million South Koreans would subscribe to broadband services that averaged 20mbps, or 10 to 20 times faster than the average U.S. connection. Although drafts of FCC proposals have been floating through telecommunications policy circles in recent weeks, insiders say it's unclear where the commissioners will ultimately come down on the issue. Any decision is likely to split the five-member body, many predict.

At a closely watched speech in Washington in December, Commissioner Kevin Martin gave a rhetorical tip of the hat to a Verizon Communications executive, saying he agreed with much of that company's policy proposals, The big local phone companies should be able to keep exclusive or near-exclusive access to new infrastructure such as superfast fiber to the home connections, while the old regulations should continue to be looked at skeptically, Martin said, "Companies will not invest in advanced services until we ensure that the governing regulations will not deprive companies of the ability to make bird of paradise iphone case a return on their investment," Martin told the crowd of telecommunications policy wonks, His comments, although not necessarily reflective of the remaining four FCC commissioners, sparked almost immediate damage control response from local phone company rivals..

A group of influential technology and consumer-electronics companies, acting as a trade group alliance dubbed the High Tech Broadband Coalition, has also urged the FCC to help speed modernized broadband services by letting the phone companies keep access to new investments. Whatever the outcome of the set of policy changes, litigation is likely from parties that feel they've lost market advantage. State regulators, who have fought to retain their own prerogatives to regulate aspects of their local markets, have said they are also likely to sue to overturn any new rules that undermine their traditional powers.

U.S, regulators plan a major overhaul in telecommunications policy that could strengthen the hand of local phone monopolies in a number of key areas, including high-speed Internet access, Learn more about broadband.At stake are arcane regulations governing how local phone companies must treat competitors seeking access to their lines and facilities, Those rules, set in 1996, were intended to be the cornerstone of a competitive marketplace bird of paradise iphone case for services that piggyback on the local phone networks, But some top policy-makers at the Federal Communications Commission have recently indicated that they believe consumers would do better if such rules were sharply curtailed..

No decision has yet been publicly announced, although FCC officials have said they hope to complete the process by late February. Meanwhile, companies whose plans rely on access to local phone networks are bracing for a sea change that they say could have sweeping effects on competition and customers' Internet choices. Small companies are worried about being driven out of business, companies as large as AT&T are concerned about losing access to local phone networks, and the big local phone companies scent a policy victory they've sought for years.