Jobs & Innovation on the Line in FCC ‘Open Internet’ Proceeding October 22nd, 2009

Proponents of Regulation Face ‘High Bar’ Demonstrating Public Interest in U.S. Policy Reversal

Today, the Federal Communications Commission held its monthly public meeting in which it voted to proceed with a notice of proposed rulemaking “to preserve the free and open Internet.” The following statement can be attributed to USTelecom President and CEO Walter B. McCormick, Jr.:

“The nation’s broadband service providers fully support the notion of a free and open Internet. While we look forward to constructively participating in what the chairman promises to be a data-driven process, we simply point out the irrefutable fact that all Americans enjoy today a free and open Internet in the absence of more regulation. It is equally true that no industry invests more in the U.S. economy than broadband service providers.  And, no segment of our economy created more jobs last year than the broadband-fueled information, communications and technology sector.

“All sides support an open Internet.  All sides want to see continued investment, job creation and innovation in this vital sector of our economy.  Where we differ is when it comes to whether a greater government role in the day-to-day operations of the Internet will help or hurt this important progress.

“We agree with several Commissioner’s comments that this rulemaking must look carefully across the entire Internet ecosystem, encompassing not only broadband providers, but also applications and content providers.  At the end of the day, ‘neutrality’ must, in fact, be neutral.

“Innovation—both within the network and on the edge—can and does coexist today with a free and open Internet.  Those calling for greater government intervention face a high bar in demonstrating the public interest in reversing a course that has been so successful for consumers, our economy and our national security.  We believe it would be a mistake to replace today’s open and dynamic environment with a government-managed  ‘mother may I’ approach to innovation.”

Washington Post Joins Growing Chorus of Concern on Net Neutrality Regs September 28th, 2009

Add another influential voice to the mounting dissent surrounding Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski’s proposal to dramatically expand and codify so-called net neutrality principles into regulation.

In its editorial this morning, The Washington Post asks the fundamental question at the center of the gathering storm:  “Is this intervention necessary?”

Read the editorial here.

USTelecom Statement on Google Voice Call Blocking September 25th, 2009

Today, AT&T filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission pointing out that Google Voice is blocking calls to certain numbers that would incur access charges to Google.  Traditional telecom and wireless companies are required by law to connect these calls, despite the exorbitant access charges often associated with them.  The AT&T letter points out the need for a level and pro-investment playing field for all competitors in today’s broadband world.

The following statement is from Walter B. McCormick Jr., President and CEO of USTelecom:

“The hubris of Google’s ‘do as I say, not as I do’ approach to public policy would be laughable if it were not so serious.  In offering voice service, and then engaging in call blocking – effectively assuming the power to decide who its customer can call and what content they can access – the nation’s number one promoter of increased broadband regulation has arrogated to itself freedom from existing telecommunications regulation, a personal exemption from the FCC’s internet principles, and a pass on the public interest in competitive parity. If the FCC’s rules, principles and precedent are to have any meaning, it is imperative that they be applied equally.”

Broadband Now: National Broadband Plan September 23rd, 2009

The goal is clear: speed universal access to broadband across America to unleash considerable opportunities and economic stimulus.  With $7.2 billion in federal funds and a mandate from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission is working to draft a national broadband plan as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

And, as profiled on our sister site, NextGenWeb.org, the FCC kick-started the planning process with a series of workshops underscoring the transformative power of broadband on our economy, health care, education, the environment and more.  But what do the facts tell us about where broadband deployment stands, and where it needs to go?  Here are a few key statistics featured in our latest Broadband Now video:

Competition and Choice. Today, 96% of Americans have access to high-speed Internet, and more than 4 out of 5 consumers have multiple choices in companies and technologies.

Investment and Innovation. The nation’s 1,400 high-speed Internet providers invest between $50 and $60 billion annually in broadband infrastructure — a sum that makes the U.S. the world leader in infrastructure investment, according to the Tech Policy Institute.

Providing Universal Access.  Approximately 5% of Americans say they don’t have broadband because service is unavailable, and other consumers say they simply have no interest in broadband.  While the federal stimulus funds targeting broadband deployment will certainly help, it’s essential that constructive policies foster innovative collaborations between the private and public sectors to bridge this digital divide.  Focusing on community-based digital literacy efforts will also be key to engaging an even broader audience.

With private companies and policymakers alike moving toward the goal of universal broadband, America’s citizens can count on this technology’s rewards growing richer for our communities.  To hear more about our nation’s plans for broadband, click on the video.

The Open Internet* September 21st, 2009

In his announcement this morning that he will open a new regulatory proceeding aimed at expanding the role of government “to preserve the open Internet,” FCC Chairman Genachowski talked about the importance of transparency and reasonable network management.

We have championed these concepts at NextGenWeb.  One reflects the basic belief that consumers should be informed about their broadband service and the other allows network engineers—on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis—to keep the Internet secure and highly-functioning for the country and the world.

There was much to find encouraging in Chairman Genachowski’s remarks.  He reveled in the innovation and investment our nation has enjoyed over the last 40 years, ever since “a bunch of researchers in a lab changed the way computers interact and, as a result, changed the world.”

It also was encouraging to hear him note the importance of broadband-fueled investment and innovation to the future of health care, education, energy and other vital national priorities that a robust, well-managed Internet helps advance.

But most importantly, he pointed out a critical and central fact to the coming debate.  “We cannot know what tomorrow holds on the Internet,” he said, “except that it will be unexpected.”

It’s my hope that reasonable folks on both sides of the “net neutrality” debate hear the implications of that statement.  It makes a compelling case that we proceed with caution when it comes to greater government involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Internet.  Even the best and brightest innovators have trouble predicting and planning for the future.  Can Washington do a better job?

Chairman Genachowski rightly notes that broadband is “an unprecedented platform for speech, democratic engagement, and a culture that prizes creative new ways of approaching old problems.”  It is our hope many people will use the Internet to have a voice in these proceedings.  In fact, the FCC started a new site today, www.OpenInternet.gov just for this purpose. At the same time, we hope the debates will remain “fact-driven,” something the Chairman has said is of primary importance to something this critical to our nation.

We will have a lot to say during these proceedings. Much of it will be supportive because we’re big believers in the FCC’s existing principles, as well as transparency and network management.  But at times, we may also serve as a respectful voice of dissent, warning about the laws of unintended consequences and making the case for policies that support investment and innovation in the networks that allows consumers to have the kind of Internet experience they want. And, you will hear us talk about the true state of competition and consumer choice in the U.S. broadband market.

*All Americans enjoy an open Internet today.  But, all of us also deserve robust and innovative broadband networks in the future.  That’s the meaning of the asterisk on my headline: An open Internet is a good thing.  But the success or failure of the specific policies that aim to advance it lies in the details.

Cross-posted at NextGenWeb.org.

USTelecom Statement on Open Internet NPRM September 21st, 2009

Today, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced his intent to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at the Commission’s October meeting that could significantly expand the role of the federal government in the day-to-day operations of the Internet.

USTelecom President and CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. released the following statement:

“We were encouraged to hear the Chairman’s support of case-by-case enforcement and, more generally, by his assurances that we will have an open, inclusive and data-driven proceeding and that the details haven’t been pre-determined.  We do, however, remain concerned about the law of unintended consequences and a rulemaking that potentially goes too far.  All Americans enjoy an open and free Internet today.  And, I believe we all share the goal of ensuring our nation has a robust and innovative Internet in the future.  The broadband industry is a bright spot for deployment, employment and economic growth, and we are committed to doing business in ways that are consistent with reasonable network management and transparency.  We will engage in this process, and we appreciate the Chairman’s remarks today that he welcomes this participation.  We will proceed with an open mind, but we also believe the bar needs to be set very high when it comes to additional government interventions that could potentially disrupt the tremendous innovation and investment that have defined U.S. broadband for the past several years under the FCC’s existing open Internet principles.”

USTelecom Comments on FCC’s Number Porting Order May 13th, 2009

Today, the Federal Communications Commission issued new rules calling on providers to port numbers in one business day; previously wireline companies had four days to complete the process.  USTelecom President and CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. issued the following statement:

“While USTelecom supports the FCC’s efforts to reduce the time it takes to port numbers between providers, this involves a complex process and we will need to carefully review the order to determine its practicality and its effect on our members. At a minimum, the order should require that all companies including providers of VoIP and cable services play by the same rules. It will be important to understand how the Commission has satisfied its specific statutory obligation to enable providers to recover costs for implementing these regulatory requirements. We will look forward to working with North American Numbering Council (NANC) to ensure that the processes developed protect consumers from losing service as a result of these shorter intervals.”

Broadband Stimulus Update Video March 27th, 2009

USTelecom’s Vice President for Policy David Cohen provides a video recap on what’s been happening with the broadband stimulus package. Hear about the roles of the Rural Utilities Service, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the recent Broadband Technology Opportunities Program public meetings and USTelecom’s plans.

Click on the video to see the complete update.

USTelecom Webinar: Broadband Grants & Loans March 5th, 2009

Today USTelecom conducted a webinar titled: “Broadband Grants & Loans: What You Need to Know.”

With interest high and details fluid as the backdrop, USTelecom’s VP of Policy, Dave Cohen gave an excellent overview of the current state-of-play of the stimulus package as it relates to broadband deployment. Dave covered the RUS and NTIA programs that will be managing the monies allocated to broadband deployments. Joining USTelecom on this webinar was Raquel Noriega from ConnectedNation.org. Raquel gave an overview of how broadband mapping will play a role in deployments that rely on stimulus funding.

Miss the webinar?  It’s now available for on demand viewing.

USTelecom Pleased With Genachowski Nomination March 3rd, 2009

Today, President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate respected entrepreneur and communications policy veteran Julius Genachowski as the next Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

USTelecom CEO Walter McCormick immediately issued a statement, saying he looked forward to working with the new Chairman:

“We are pleased that we have in our President and in his choice for FCC Chairman two individuals who share our commitment to bringing broadband’s full promise to more Americans.  During the past two years, the nation’s nearly 1,400 broadband providers invested approximately $120 billion in private capital to extend the capacity and reach of modern communications infrastructure throughout our country.  It is critical that government and the private sector work constructively together to continue this vital progress that will help fuel our nation’s economic recovery and ongoing innovation from health care to education to citizen engagement in our democracy. ”

See the complete statement here.