Press

Public Knowledge Disappointed by New Verizon Wireless Rate Hike

June 12, 2012

Today, Verizon announced a significant change to its wireless pricing plan. 

The following is attributable to Michael Weinberg, Senior Staff Attorney at Public Knowledge 

“Today marks the latest in a long line of price increases masquerading as consumer friendly changes. Verizon is offering consumers more of what they do not want and charging them more for what they do want. Verizon customers will now pay more for much less.

“This change will hit late adopters the hardest, many of whom are lower-income individuals. One year ago consumers could pay $30 for unlimited data. Today, it costs them $50 to get 1 GB per month.

“These rate hikes are only possible because of the lack of effective competition in the wireless market. Verizon clearly has no fear of losing customers when it raises prices.”

Public Knowledge Opposes International Regulation of Internet

May 31, 2012

The following is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and CEO of Public Knowledge:

“We believe the United States should promote global Internet freedom.  We join members of Congress from both parties and the Obama Administration in opposing international regulation of the Internet.   That view was strongly expressed that view this morning at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. 

"We agree the  International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) jurisdiction should not expand to encompass regulation or governance of the Internet, and that some of the proposals to change the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR) would have dramatically bad effects on the open and decentralized internet we know and love. 

Public Knowledge Supports Consumer Right To Control Their TV

May 24, 2012

The following is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and CEO of Public Knowledge:

“It is truly unfortunate for consumers that Fox has filed suit against DISH Network.  That suit charges DISH with copyright violations for the satellite company’s DVR which allows consumers to skip commercials, but also against the Sling adapter (formerly Sling Box) which allows consumers to stream their TV signal to a laptop at a different location.  This is a frontal assault on home recording and fair use.  Ordinary consumers are in its crosshairs, while Fox demands technological stagnation from innovators.

Public Knowledge Praises Kohl Letter On Verizon/Cable Deal

May 24, 2012

The following is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and CEO of Public Knowledge:

“Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Kohl hit all the right points in the letter he sent this morning to the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

“He correctly perceives the dangers of large companies accumulating spectrum resources to strengthen their own market position and hurt competition, and that even Verizon’s offer to sell spectrum would not improve the competitive situation in a concentrated wireless market.

Public Knowledge and Electronic Frontier Foundation Defend Aereo TV Project

May 23, 2012

Consumers should not be deprived of the right to watch broadcast TV through the technologies they choose, Public Knowledge and the Electronic Frontier Foundation said Wed. in a brief filed with the U.S. District Court in New York City.

At issue is a case filed by a group of broadcasters against Aereo, an innovative project that would allow consumers to watch broadcast TV through a series of small antennae and an Internet connection.

The brief is here. 

Public Knowledge Challenges FCC On Data Caps

May 22, 2012

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director for Public Knowledge: 

"The statement today from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski that data caps are simply another 'business model innovation' presents a false picture.  

"The question is not, as the chairman said, whether there is only one model. The question is, will all the benefits of broadband Chairman Genachowski has articulated in the past ever happen in a world where broadband providers get a free pass on any pricing scheme or restriction if they use the magic words 'bandwidth cap'? If we really want to see students downloading textbooks or watching Harvard lectures online, it would be nice to know if they will ever have the bandwidth capacity to do so.

Public Knowledge Skeptical of Cable Wi-Fi Arrangements

May 21, 2012

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director for Public Knowledge:

"Today's announcement that the largest cable companies are gathering to offer free Wi-fi only to their subscribers is very disappointing.  Wi-fi should be the competitor to wireless, but it won't be. Wi-Fi offers the opportunity for these companies to compete with wireless providers such as Verizon wireless, using Wi-Fi roaming to build a rival footprint that could offer a cheaper alternative to consumers who find their iPads and smartphones constrained by aggressive bandwidth caps. 

Public Interest Groups Ask Conditions on $6 Billion Spectrum Award

May 18, 2012

Issues: 
Broadband

For Immediate Release
May 18, 2012

Public Interest Groups Ask Conditions on  $6 Billion Spectrum Award

 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should require DISH Network Corp. to meet certain conditions if the Commission awards the company spectrum worth between $4 billion and $6 billion, three public-interest groups said in a May 17 filing.

At issue is the use of spectrum normally designated for satellite use, which would be transferred to DISH for use in land-based broadband services.  The Commission has proposed to award the spectrum without competitive bidding.

New America Foundation, Public Knowledge and Consumers Union told the Commission said the conditions they proposed are “a small price to pay for a $4 to $6 billion public subsidy.”

Public Knowledge Statement On Recent Data Cap Developments

May 17, 2012

Issues: 
Broadband

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2012

 

Public Knowledge Statement On Recent Data Cap Developments

 

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director of Public Knowledge:

"In the last 24 hours, we have seen two different reactions to changes in the telecommunications markets.  Comcast recognized the need to increase the cap on data 'usage' that the company set in 2008 and to experiment with additional flexibility for customers. As Time Warner Cable's recent decision to offer a capped plan as a discounted alternative shows, more flexible pricing plans can benefit consumers where they offer opportunities for savings without compromising quality or an open internet. We await further details of Comcast's plan so that subscribers can fully assess how these changes will impact their user experience.

Public Knowledge Asks FCC To Lift Secrecy On Verizon/Cable Research Operation

May 09, 2012

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2012

 

Public Knowledge Asks FCC To Lift Secrecy On Verizon/Cable Research Operation

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should make public the organizational details of the organization Verizon and the biggest cable companies want to establish to develop new technologies for cable and wireless, Public Knowledge said in a filing with the Commission today.