Take Action Now! -- ISP Guidelines for Requesting Access to Cable Broadband Networks
A number of the nation's largest cable operators have announced that they will work to allow access by multiple ISPs onto their cable systems, although to date none of them has provided access to an unaffiliated ISP enabling the ISP to offer service to customers. Given these announcements by cable operators, we believe it is important for ISPs to contact the cable operator(s) in their service areas to alert these cable companies of their interest in gaining access to the cable broadband systems and to seek an expeditious response from the cable companies.
WHO TO WRITE TO:
Verify who owns the cable system in your area (e.g. if it is owned by one of the large cable companies like AT&T, Cox, etc.) and then address the letter to the Chief Executive Officer of that company, "cc" the General Counsel, and "cc" the Regional Manager of the cable operator in your area.
Below are addresses for the large cable companies (multiple system
owners) in the U.S. To find the contact information for regional managers
of the cable operator in your area, you should be able to find the
name and address of the Cable Company listed in your local telephone
book. We advise that you call your local cable operator to find out
the name and precise address of the Regional Manager so that the letter
can be copied on that person specifically.
AT&T
Michael Armstrong
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
AT&T
295 North Maple Avenue
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
James Cicconi
General Counsel and Executive Vice President Law and Government Affairs
AT&T
1120 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Adelphia
John Rigas
President and Chief Executive Officer
Adelphia Communications Corporation
1 North Main Street
Coudersport, PA 16915-1141
Dennis P. Coyle
General Counsel and Secretary
Adelphia Communications Corporation
1 North Main Street
Coudersport, PA 16915-1141
Cablevision Systems Corporation
James L. Dolan
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cablevision Systems
1111 Stewart Avenue
Bethpage, NY 11714
Robert S. Lemie
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Cablevision Systems
1111 Stewart Avenue
Bethpage, NY 11714
Charter Communications
Jerald Kent
President and Chief Executive Officer
Charter Communications Inc.
12444 Powerscourt Drive #400
St. Louis, MO 63131
David Barford
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Charter Communications Inc.
12444 Powerscourt Drive #400
St. Louis, MO 63131
Classic Communications, Inc.
J. Merritt Belisle
Chief Executive Officer
Classic Communications, Inc.
515 Congress Avenue, Suite 2626
Austin, TX 78701
Dale Bennett
Chief Operating Officer
Classic Communications, Inc.
515 Congress Avenue, Suite 2626
Austin, TX 78701
Comcast
Brian L. Roberts
President
Comcast Corporation
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Stanley L. Wang
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Comcast Corporation
1500 Market Streeti
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Cox Communications
James Robbins
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cox Communications
1400 Lake Hearn Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
James Hatcher
Senior Vice President
Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Cox Communications
1400 Lake Hearn Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Insight
Michael Willner
President and Chief Executive Officer
Insight Communications
810 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Elliot Brecher
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Insight Communications
810 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Time Warner
Bonnie Blecha
Vice President, Investments
Time Warner Cable
290 Harbor Drive
Stamford, CT 06902-7441
*Ms. Blecha is the corporate contact designated by Time Warner to handle ISP requests for access.
CONTENTS OF LETTER:
For ISPs Contacting Cable Companies in the Ninth Circuit — (the nine western states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington).
Cable companies in these states are governed by the ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' in the AT&T Corp. v. City of Portland decision that cable broadband service is a "telecommunications service" under federal law and therefore must be offered on a nondiscriminatory, common carrier basis to all requesting persons, including unaffiliated ISPs.
Lead In Paragraph:
"I am writing to request confirmation that [CABLE COMPANY] will provide the transmission element of its cable Internet access service on nondiscriminatory terms and conditions to my company, [ISP], as required by the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in AT&T Corp. v. City of Portland."
Then describe your ISP company and its location, and fact that you want access to the transmission services of cable broadband network in order to be able to offer high speed broadband service to your customers. Make clear that you are requesting access to the pure transmission services of the cable network and are not seeking access to any ISP service provided by the Cable Company's affiliated ISP (e.g., Excite@Home). Outline that upon receipt of the confirmation requested from [CABLE COMPANY], your ISP company will provide to [CABLE COMPANY] information addressing the locations where you request transmission service from the cable company.
Request a response from the Cable Company within seven business
days.
For ISPs Contacting Cable Companies Not Located in Ninth Circuit
States:
Lead In Paragraph:
"I am writing to request that [CABLE COMPANY] provide to [ISP] under nondiscriminatory terms and conditions, access to the transmission element of its cable Internet access service."
Then describe your ISP company and its location and fact that you want access to the transmission services of the cable broadband network in order to be able to offer high speed broadband service to your customers. Make clear that you are requesting access to the pure transmission services of the cable network and are not seeking access to any ISP service provided by the Cable Company's affiliated ISP (e.g., Excite@Home). Outline that upon receiving the response requested, your ISP company will provide to [CABLE COMPANY] information addressing the locations where you request transmission service from the cable company.
Request a response from the Cable Company within seven business
days.
August 28, 2008