Add New Zealand to the list of countries that understand that the key to broadband penetration is building and open-access infrastructure. The Kiwis join their neighbors Australia and other Asia-Pacific countries like Singapore in building an independent open-access fiber infrastructure. Even though the country is small, the federal government recognizes the need to build the infrastructure on a local level through a public/private partnership. While the FCC is trying to flex its enforcement muscles, other countries are implementing plans to increase their broadband penetration via affordable, open-access networks. If more U.S. municipalities pursued open-access networks, net neutrality would be less of an issue.
Taking a page from the Australian broadband playbook, New Zealand has decided not to sit around while incumbent DSL operators milk the withered dugs of their cash cow until it keels over from old age. Instead, the Kiwis have established a government-owned corporation to invest NZ$1.5 billion for open-access fiber to the home. By 2020, 75 percent of residents should have, at a bare minimum, 100Mbps down/50 Mbps up with a choice of providers.
