Friday, February 10, 2012

Reax To FTC Broadband Report

June 27, 2007

The FTC on Wednesday urged caution on imposing so-called network neutrality regulations designed to prevent high-speed Internet providers from potentially acting as content gatekeepers. A 170-page report states that some proprietary deals and data prioritization could actually benefit consumers.

There are more details in Technology Daily’s PM Edition. But for now, let’s focus on the reactions that flooded our inboxes shortly after the document was released...

Mike McCurry and Christopher Wolf, co-chairs of the Hands Off the Internet coalition, said: “Once again, independent experts have looked at the net neutrality issue and asked, ‘Where’s the beef? There’s an explosion in broadband deployment in America now, which is creating jobs and making high-speed connections more affordable.”

Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, said the report “wisely recommends continued cautious monitoring of broadband development in the U.S.” and suggests that policymakers should consider unintended consequences of regulation on broadband services.

Steve Largent, president of the wireless trade group CTIA, said: “The Internet regulation scheme has forever been built on a hypothetical, ‘what-if’ scenario and today this flimsy theory has met yet another round of cold, hard, real-world facts that render it unworthy of our nation’s attention and resources. The facts about this debate have never been more clear. When it comes to the competitive and innovative broadband marketplace the consumer sits in the driver’s seat.”

U.S. Telecom Association President and CEO Walter McCormick Jr. said: “The FTC found what consumers already know – that they have a variety of competitive choices from cable, DSL, wireless, satellite and other alternative providers for high-speed Internet services, and there is no problem that requires regulation of the Internet.”

Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn said the report fell short in its analysis of a competitive market and the related issue of net neutrality. “Despite the fervent wishes of the FTC staff, there is not a competitive market for high-speed Internet services. New technologies, particularly wireless technologies, are not soon going to have the same robust qualities or market penetration as the duopoly cable and telephone-company services.”

S. Derek Turner
, Free Press research director said: "While the FTC rightly acknowledges that consumers strongly prefer the free and open Internet the way it is, much of the agency's lengthy new report largely ignores our broadband reality. The FTC has an explicit duty to protect consumers. Yet this study includes no empirical research on competition in the local broadband market."

The Open Internet Coalition said that “given the well-documented desire by executives from the cable and telephone companies to discriminate among content providers on the Internet, we continue to urge Congress and the FCC to enact measures that preserve the open Internet.” The FTC report “once again shows that this is what today’s Internet consumers have come to expect and demand.”

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Juliana Gruenwald

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Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


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Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.