Comcast and Pando, a company working on a more efficient method of distributing peer-to-peer content, announced today they will work on a "bill of rights" for P2P users and Internet Service Providers. The following is a statement from Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
Press
Public Knowledge and Advocacy Groups Urge FCC To Protect Text Messaging Rights
Public Knowledge, joined by a prominent state legislator as well as consumer and public interest groups, told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that regulators act to protect the rights of consumers to use text messaging without undue interference from wireless companies. The FCC should also protect some wireless carriers from the anticompetitive behavior of others, Public Knowledge and groups filing with it said.
In addition, groups representing advocacy organizations and the disability community agreed that their access to texting remains in jeopardy unless the FCC acts.
Public Knowledge Commends International Consumer Net Neutrality Resolution
Issues:
The Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), earlier this week approved, and presented to representatives of the U.S. government, a resolution in favor of policies that will promote a non-discriminatory Internet. The TACD is a group of 60 consumer and public-interest organizations from the European Union and the U.S. More background on the organization is found at www.tacd.org.
The resolution, adopted at a TACD meeting in Washington, D.C., found that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) "have the technical ability to act as gatekeepers, blocking or degrading consumers' access to certain content and applications, or limiting the types of equipment that can be attached to the network. Such behavior can severely limit the usefulness of the Internet and frustrate consumers' aims."
Public Knowledge Disappointed With Martin Plan For Skype Petition
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin reportedly said at the CTIA conference today he is circulating an order denying the petition filed by Skype to allow for any equipment to be connected to the wireless network, provided the device does not harm the network. The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
Public Knowledge Slams New Intellectual Property Legislation
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The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
"Earlier today, we were made aware of a new piece of intellectual property legislation, S. 4108. This bill is a tragedy wrapped in a travesty. It is also a travesty wrapped in a tragedy.
Public Knowledge Sees BitTorrent-Comcast Arrangement As Irrelevant
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Background: BitTorrent and Comcast have announced they will work together to make their Internet technologies operate more smoothly. The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
Public Knowledge Asks FCC For Conditions on XM-Sirius Merger
Issues:
The U.S. Department of Justice today approved the merger between XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.
The following is the comment of Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
"Public Knowledge has maintained that the merger, if it passed antitrust scrutiny, should be approved with a number of conditions. With the Justice Department decision sanctioning them merger, the next move is up to the Federal Communications Commission. We hope the Commission will act accordingly to impose conditions that serve the interests of consumers."
Public Knowledge Comment on FCC Spectrum Auction Actions
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today ordered the separation of the D block of spectrum (for joint commercial/public safety use) from the rest of the auction of 700 MHz spectrum and revealed Verizon was the winner of the national "C" block.
The following is the comment of Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
Public Knowledge Gives FCC Mixed Review on Broadband Actions
Background: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved its first report in four years on the deployment of broadband, and said it would collect more detailed information on the deployment of broadband. The following is the statement of Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
"The Commission today presented a mixed message to the public. On one hand, the Commission issued another report finding that broadband deployment in the U.S. was proceeding in a "reasonable and timely" fashion. As Commissioners Copps and Adelstein pointed out, the report is based on faulty and incomplete information and so does not present a true picture of broadband deployment.
Public Knowledge Asks FCC Investigation of Spectrum Auction
Background: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has closed its auction in the spectrum band now occupied by TV broadcasters. The following is the comment from Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
"The Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction produced some good results for consumers. While the open access provisions weren't all that we would have liked, consumers will have the benefit of some device and applications flexibility that they wouldn't have had otherwise.
"However, the lack of activity in the 'D' block that would have supported public safety activity raises some cause for concern. Following reports that Frontline dropped out of the auction as a result of alleged conditions put on the block by the public safety community, we urge the Commission to look into the auction results."
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