Press

Public Knowledge Praises FCC Decision To Protect Internet, Punish Comcast

August 01, 2008

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took a bold step to protect the rights of Internet users, while punishing the unacceptable behavior of Comcast.

“Comcast’s throttling of legal Internet traffic had nothing to do with network management as the company claims. It had everything to do with a big company trying to exert its power over a captive Internet market.

“We commend FCC Chairman Kevin Martin for his leadership, and Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein for recognizing that action needed to be taken. It is unfortunate that the other commissioners did not recognize that there are times when government must step in to preserve the public interest, particularly in such an instance when Comcast’s behavior was clearly outside the boundaries of acceptable practice.

Public Knowledge Response to House Republican Leader Letter to The FCC

July 31, 2008

Background: Earlier today, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-O) chastised FCC Chairman Kevin Martin over the Commission’s expected actions to punish Comcast for throttling Internet traffic.

The following is the response of Public Knowledge President and Co-Founder Gigi B. Sohn:

“It is a shame that the harm Comcast has done to the Internet has not been appreciated by Leader Boehner. Rather than criticizing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Leader Boehner should praise him for putting a stop to a practice that technical experts have said is clearly outside the bounds of accepted Internet practice, while at the same time the FCC is acting to protect consumers.

“The FCC’s action is in no way ‘heavy-handed,’ as Leader Boehner put it. It is, rather, a return to the principles of open competition and non-discrimination that have been a part of communications law in this country for more than 70 years.

Public Knowledge Says Digital-Music Legislation Would Take Away Consumer Rights

July 29, 2008

Issues: 
Copyright

Legislation considered today by the Senate Judiciary Committee would nullify rights consumers already have to record digital music, Public Knowledge said in written testimony submitted to the Committee.

The group said S. 256, the PERFORM Act, would also unfairly impose restrictions on some types of digital music, but not on others.

Public Knowledge Statement on FCC Comcast Action

July 27, 2008

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“The Federal Communications Commission has apparently voted to punish Comcast for violating the Commission's open Internet principles. This is good news for consumers and Internet users. Comcast knowingly blocked lawful Internet use and denied it.

“The fact that the Commission is willing to stand up for its principles and for Internet users is a good sign that the concept of Net Neutrality is alive and well in Washington. We look forward to learning more about the details of the Commission action.”

Public Knowledge Statement on XM-Sirius Merger

July 25, 2008

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“It appears as if the Commission has adopted in some form all four of the conditions we have been seeking for the XM-Sirius merger. We had originally said that there should be some form of a la carte choice in programming, a three-year price freeze, a set-aside for non-commercial and minority programming and an open-device requirement so that any manufacturer could build a device to receive programming from the combined company.

“Consumers will be better off than had the merger been granted without any conditions. At the same time, we eagerly await the details of the Commission's order to see more closely the degree to which the conditions will serve the public interest.”

Public Knowledge Statement on Leahy Intellectual Property Enforcement Bill

July 24, 2008

Issues: 
Copyright

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“We are concerned that several provisions in this bill could have harmful, if unintended, consequences that would harm consumers. The bill rightly targets enforcement of copyright law against commercial infringers, but some of these same enforcement provisions are likely to hurt ordinary consumers.

FCC Urged To Protect Consumers’ TVs from Movie Companies

July 22, 2008

Seven public-interest and consumer groups, led by Public Knowledge, late yesterday called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to turn down Hollywood’s request to take control of consumers’ TV sets and other devices.

Public Knowledge Optimistic About FCC Action on Comcast

July 11, 2008

Issues: 
Network Neutrality

Background: Press reports indicate FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is recommending that Comcast be punished for violating Commission policy statements to preserve an open Internet.

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

"We are pleased that Chairman Martin has decided to enforce the Commission's policies preserving the rights of Internet users. Comcast's conduct in throttling Internet traffic was deplorable when it was discovered, and remains deplorable today.

Public Knowledge and Media Access Project Ask Stronger Satellite Merger Terms

July 11, 2008

Two key merger conditions suggested recently by Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "fall short of what is necessary to ensure that the merger is in the public interest," Public Knowledge (PK) and Media Access Project (MAP) today told FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

Public Knowledge Reaction To Charter Announcement It Will Halt NebuAd Test

June 24, 2008

Issues: 
Network Neutrality

Background: Charter Communications said this afternoon it will not now move forward with a pilot project involving NebuAd, a company that provides targeted advertising for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). A technical investigation by Public Knowledge and Free Press found that consumers are having their Web browsing intercepted and Web sites are having their computer code altered by NebuAd. The report is available here.

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“We are pleased that Charter has agreed to cancel its participation in pilot projects with NebuAd ‘at this time.’ However, Charter statement leaves room for participation at a future time. Should Charter decide to enter into commercial arrangements with NebuAd, it should be on the basis that NebuAd will not intercept customers’ data and plant false code in it.