CONNECTSALEMVINELAND
INTERCONNECT POLICY
“The proposed middle-mile infrastructure, as directed by Section 60401(e)(3)(D) of the Infrastructure Act, will offer interconnection in perpetuity, where technically feasible without exceeding current or reasonably anticipated capacity limitations, on reasonable rates and terms to be negotiated with requesting parties. Such interconnection must include both the ability to connect to the public internet and physical interconnection for the exchange of traffic.
The partners in this project will meet or exceed the requirements set forth by the FCC’s Internet Policy Statement, FCC 05-151, adopted August 5, 2005 regarding non-discrimination. Further, the partners will actively encourage Broadband deployment and the preservation and promotion of the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet. State bidding requirements include nondiscrimination for construction as well as the operations of publicly developed projects.
The middle-mile infrastructure proposed will be high-capacity, point-to-point private line transport services. The content of communications traffic will not be monitored, managed, or limited in any way, except to the extent necessary to maintain service on a reliable basis. The partners in this project intend to employ management practices that will not involve the preferential routing of traffic on the basis of provider or content. Neutral traffic routing will be employed, with connections maintained without respect to carrier.
Additionally, traffic on the proposed middle-mile network will be exchanged from a likewise agnostic standpoint, without respect to network carrier, technology, or pricing. This network will be maintained according to the principles set forth in Executive Order 2021-15069, Promoting Competition in the American Economy, instructing the FCC to restore New Neutrality.
The partners in this project will negotiate with requesting parties to interconnect on reasonable terms and conditions, subject to the prevailing market conditions.”