A showdown of broadband proportions
 
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Normally, this space is reserved for the opinions of Editor in Chief John Dix. But lately, it's been more like the community calendar. That's because we've got so many special events planned for you, including the security session at NetWorld+Interop Las Vegas that I wrote about last week. (For more information, go to www.interop.com, click on the Las Vegas 2002 show and hit keynotes.)
In addition, John Dix this week is hosting his Voice-over-IP Showdown at the Spring Voice on the Net conference in Seattle (www.von.com/vonspr02/). If you're there, be sure to attend. If not, check out our coverage after the event.
But we have even more in store.
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At Supercomm this June in Atlanta, I'm hosting Network World's Broadband Showdown - and I'm challenging the leading providers of broadband access to debate one another on technology and strategy.
The goal of the Showdown is to give businesses a chance to hear from providers of cable modem service, DSL, fixed wireless and satellite access - all the major broadband purveyors. I want to explore not only the strengths and weaknesses of the services they offer, but also find out more about deployment plans, management strategies and the value-add services they plan to offer over these access pipes. I want to know how these companies serve geographically dispersed businesses, how their pricing stacks up and what kind of support they provide to help you bring offices and teleworkers into the corporate network.
The Showdown will be held on Wednesday, June 5, and Amy Harris, program manager for broadband markets and technologies at IDC, will join me. In a true presidential-debate-style format, Amy and I will hit the providers with tough questions. Then we'll let the vendors ask each other questions, which is always fun.
For cable, I'm challenging AOL Time Warner - the current market leader - to send a top technical executive. For DSL, I'm looking for SBC Communications to go to bat. For satellite, I want DIRECTV Broadband.
For fixed wireless . . . well, I'm up in the air, no pun intended. This is a fractured market where companies that once looked like major contenders have backed off of late. I'm not sure who should play, and I want to hear from you and from the providers about which company should join us.
So AOL Time Warner, SBC, DIRECTV . . . are you up for the challenge? Will you join the showdown? And who will stand up for fixed wireless?
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