If there is any one common theme that has arisen from the years-long policy debate surrounding network neutrality, reasonable network management and preserving an open Internet experience – it’s that there is no simple solution and the entire Internet ecosystem must be engaged with a common purpose to continue providing consumers with a great Internet experience.
That is why today’s announcement of the formation of a Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group (BITAG) is such encouraging news. The BITAG starts off with some of the leading broadband providers, high-tech companies and Internet content providers, and will provide an inter-industry forum to allow technical and engineering experts to discuss technical issues and develop best practices related to matters that affect the consumer broadband experience.
According to today’s announcement, the BITAG’s mission is to:
Bring together engineers and other similar technical experts to develop consensus on broadband network management practices or other related technical issues that can affect users’ Internet experience, including the impact to and from applications, content and devices that utilize the Internet. Participants agreed that the TAG’s mission could also include: (1) educating policymakers on such technical issues; (2) attempting to address specific technical matters in an effort to minimize related policy disputes; and (3) serving as a sounding board for new ideas and network management practices.
An impressive list of companies that touch all points of the consumer broadband experience have signed on to the initial BITAG effort, including AT&T Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Comcast Corporation, DISH Network, L.L.C., EchoStar Corporation, Google Inc., Intel Corporation, Level 3 Communications, LLC, Microsoft, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon.
Importantly, the BITAG will be managed by an independent and expert facilitator, Adjunct Professor Dale Hatfield of the University of Colorado at Boulder, a former FCC Chief Technologist who is executive director of the highly-respected Silicon Flatirons Center.
Formation of BITAG was applauded by The Internet Society, one of the world’s foremost non-profit organizations which provides leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy:
“This joint effort by industry leaders provides an exciting opportunity to address key operational challenges facing the Internet user experience,” said Leslie Daigle, Chief Internet Technical Officer of the Internet Society. “The Internet Society believes this activity is an important contribution to the ongoing global, open technical dialog and looks forward to seeing its output appropriately integrated with the work of existing Internet standards activities.”
(Also see NCTA’s statement on our website.)
As today’s BITAG announcement indicates, this is really the beginning of a process to attract interest and participation by others and to organize the BITAG to meet the mission statement to which these companies have committed. We look forward to learning more about the BITAG and to supporting its efforts.