Press

Public Knowledge Agrees with White House Order to Share Federal Spectrum

June 14, 2013

Today the White House issued an executive order calling for federal agencies to enhance the "efficiency and use of their spectrum to satisfy the demand of business and consumer broadband users."

Last year, Consumer Federation of America estimated that spectrum sharing technologies contribute over $50 billion each year to the economy through sales of devices and supporting wireless services. Cisco has estimated that one-third of global wireless traffic passes through shared spectrum technologies such as WiFi, and that the percentage of wireless data traffic flowing over shared spectrum will only continue to grow.

For the past three years, Public Knowledge has advocated for federal spectrum sharing. It is exactly the kind of return the public deserves in the management of  "public airwaves."

The following can be attributed to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President:

Public Knowledge Joins Growing Coalition to Stop NSA Spying

June 11, 2013

Today, Public Knowledge, along with 85 Internet companies and organizations, sent a letter to Congress demanding an investigation of the National Security Administration's collection of telephone and internet records.

The letter calls for an investigative committee to immediately investigate the reports from the Guardian and Washington Post that the NSA is spying on American phone records and internet activity. It also calls for legal reforms to change our current state of unchecked global surveillance and for the persons responsible be held accountable for their actions.

The letter contains specific reforms including:

As Phone Companies Replace Old Networks, Serious Questions Remain

June 07, 2013

Background: Verizon has decided not to rebuild its telephone lines in certain communities on New York's Fire Island and on the Barrier Islands of New Jersey. Instead, it will deploy a wireless service called "Voice Link" which allows customers to use their home telephones to make calls using Verizon's wireless cellphone network.

Under Federal Law, before Verizon can stop providing its traditional phone service, Verizon must file a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to discontinue service.

The following statement may be attributed to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President, Public Knowledge:

Public Knowledge Statement on White House Patent Task Force

June 04, 2013

This morning, the White House addressed the problems associated with patent trolls and poor patent quality by proposing a number of patent reform initiatives. The statement recognizes the economic costs of patent abuses, and sets forth seven legislative recommendations and five executive actions for patent reform.

The following may be attributed to Charles Duan, Director of Public Knowledge’s Patent Reform Project:

The FCC Rolls Out Rural Broadband Access Through the Connect America Fund

May 22, 2013

Today  Mignon Clyburn, Chairwoman of the FCC, announced the distribution of the the Connect America Fund (CAF). The CAF is a portion of the Universal Service Fund (USF) that goes to building out broadband in high-cost rural communities.  

The following can be attributed to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President:

"It's heartening to see Chairwoman Clyburn true to her commitment to move important items forward. The decision on how to allocate the CAF money was already made some time ago. Moving forward keeps the FCC on track in its ongoing efforts to address the continuing and urgent problem of rural broadband deployment. We look forward to working with the Chairwoman Clyburn and Commissioners Pai and Rosenworcel in the coming weeks on broadband, prison phone rates, media policy, spectrum, and other issues."

New Patent Reform Bill Takes Aim at Patent Trolls and Other Abuses

May 22, 2013

Today, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Patent Abuse Reduction Act of 2013. The bill introduces several reforms to patent litigation. In particular, it requires parties asserting patents to explain their infringement case in detail early on at the pleading stage, it limits discovery during the lawsuit, shifts litigation costs and fees, and empowers defendants to join into the lawsuit other parties with interests in the patents.

The following can be attributed to Charles Duan, Director of Public Knowledge's Patent Reform Project:

Public Knowledge Calls For Spectrum Holdings Limits

May 20, 2013

Today, Public Knowledge joined a group letter asking Acting Chair of the FCC Mignon Clyburn to oversee a "comprehensive review" to update the FCC's spectrum holdings rules in preparation for the upcoming 600MHz auction, and to adopt rules for the auction that promote competition. The signatories represent hundreds of wireless, wireline, and high-tech companies – from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses, public interest groups, and entrepreneurs.

The letter notes that the auction has potential to "benefit consumers and strengthen competition for wireless broadband services," and that the Commission should not give much weight to AT&T's attempt to discredit the Department of Justice's recent submission to the FCC which calls on the Commission to adopt pro-competitive policies.

A link to the letter can be found here.

Public Knowledge on T-Mobile Withdrawing Their Open internet Suit

May 17, 2013

Today, T-Mobile announced that it will withdraw the challenge to the FCC's Open Internet rules it inherited from its acquisition of MetroPCS.

The following statement can be attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, President and CEO. 

"We're happy that T-Mobile has dropped MetroPCS's lawsuit challenging the Open Internet rules. The rules are working.  While they're not perfect, they reassure Internet companies that they will be able to reach users, they give ISPs a framework under which they can manage their networks, and they provide a mechanism for working out disputes.

Public Knowledge To Testify in Senate State of Video Hearing

May 13, 2013

Tomorrow, Public Knowledge Senior Staff Attorney John Bergmayer will testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet in the hearing titled "State of Video." In his testimony, Bergmayer will argue that while technology is changing the way people watch video, the regulatory system is holding back competition. As a result, most viewers still face high monthly cable bills. He will recommend that the Senate re-align the rules that govern the video marketplace so that they better serve the public interest, allowing all creators to be fairly compensated while bringing down bills and increasing choices for consumers. 

Public Knowledge Responds to the FCC's Pilot Program Public Notice

May 10, 2013

Background: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice seeking comment on whether to conduct a "pilot program" under which local telephone companies will stop offering traditional local phone service over copper lines to offer wireless services or voice-over-IP (VOIP) service instead. In November of 2012, AT&T filed a request for the FCC to conduct pilot programs as part of a process of transitioning the existing phone network, called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), to VOIP. On May 3, 2013, Verizon filed a request with the State of New York to replace its traditional copper network on Fire Island, destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, with an untested fixed wireless product called Voice Link. 

The following may be attributed to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President.