Transforming the Structure of Network Interconnection and Transport

Abstract

Vibrant development of a network-based economy requires separating investment in highly location specific local access technology from the development of standardized, geography-independent, wide-area network services. Thus far interconnection arrangements and associated regulations have been too closely tied to the idiosyncratic geographic structure of individual operators' networks. A key industry challenge is to foster the development of a wide area lattice of common geographic points of interconnection. Sound regulatory and anti-trust policy can help address this industry need.