I occassionally suspect my colleagues in the Public Interest community lack a sense of humor -- although perhaps it is simply that I am in a more relaxed frame of mind after my annual vacation from the 21st Century. I am neither surprised nor outraged at the recent news that members of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) are picking up where the FCC "secret meetings" left off and trying to come up with a net neutrality consensus framework. To me, it seems rather sad and funny. My only surprise is that even in Washington, the notion of an industry trade association working with its members is anything unusual or significant. I mean, that's what industry trade associations do after all.
Broadband
Why I'm Amused Rather Than Outraged Over New "Industry Negotiations" -- And What The Democrats Need To Understand
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On this weeks PK In the Know podcast, we discuss the ramifications of the Google/Verizon announcement, the reemergence (again) of a fashion copyright bill, and what the FCC's AllVid proposal means for the future of video devices.
You can download and listen to the audio by clicking here (MP3) or stream it using the player below:
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Public Knowledge Tells the FCC to Protect Broadband Access Service
Issues:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should move quickly under its clear authority to establish a reliable framework to protect broadband access service, Public Knowledge (PK) told the Commission in comments filed earlier today.
The text of the filing is here.
In its filing, PK said, “Public Knowledge provides clear evidence that Title II classification can be used to establish bright-line distinctions based on the service offered. More importantly, straightforward, technology-neutral rules will help provide critical certainty to future innovation.”
Don’t Be Distracted By The Shiny Announcement: PK Urges the FCC to Keep Moving on the Third Way
Follow @mweinbergpkToday, Public Knowledge filed reply comments in the FCC’s “Third Way” docket, urging the Commission to take the steps necessary to protect consumers online.
With all of the commotion over this week’s Google/Verizon announcement, it is important to remember that the major decisions about broadband classification (and net neutrality) will be made at the FCC.
Public Knowledge Says Google-Verizon Proposal Seeks to Strip FCC of Enforcement Powers
Issues:
Background: Today, Verizon and Google announced that they have reached a private agreement on a legislative proposal for Net Neutrality.
The following is attributed to Sherwin Siy, Deputy Legal Director of Public Knowledge:
“We have already expressed our alarm at the extraordinary loopholes present in Verizon and Google’s proposal. However, the proposal also damages open Internet efforts through commission as well as omission. The section on “case-by-case enforcement” directs the FCC to defer to rules set by industry-led advisory groups. Combined with the proposal’s recommendation that the FCC have no rulemaking authority with respect to consumer protection and nondiscrimination, the agreement outsources the FCC’s powers and authorities to the very industries these rules are supposed to oversee.”
Public Knowledge Says Verizon-Google Agreement is "Nothing More than A Private Agreement between Two Corporate Behemoths."
Issues:
Background: Today, Verizon and Google announced that they have reached a private agreement on a legislative proposal for Net Neutrality.
The following is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“The agreement between Verizon and Google about how to manage Internet traffic is nothing more than a private agreement between two corporate behemoths, and should not be a template or basis for either Congressional or FCC action. It is unenforceable, and does almost nothing to preserve an open Internet.
This summer has been one of the most exhausting in recent memory. First, there has been a constant barrage of record heat and humidity. Second, there is the continuing battle over whether and how to preserve the FCC's authority to protect broadband consumers and ensure universal broadband access. While the former is somewhat predictable for Washington, the latter has been like a soap opera, with lots of plot twists, make-ups and break-ups and nearly a few tears (of utter frustration).
Statement of Public Knowledge On Collapse of FCC Talks
Issues:
Earlier today, FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus announced that the multiparty talks discussing a framework for an open Internet had been called off.
The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“The path before the Federal Communications Commission is now perfectly clear. It must act to ensure that consumers are protected, that everyone can have access to broadband and that the Commission has the authority to ensure and open and non-discriminatory Internet. It can do that simply by acting on the dockets now pending before the Commission.
“We were concerned about the negotiations because they were largely restricted to the biggest industry players. The FCC now can use the comments and public views submitted to it as a basis for its decisions, as the Commission should have done all along.”
Public Knowledge Calls Verizon-Google Deal ‘Regrettable’
Issues:
Background: It has been reported that Verizon and Google have reached a private agreement on a legislative proposal for Net Neutrality.
The following is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“The deal between Verizon and Google about how to manage Internet traffic is deeply regrettable and should be considered meaningless. As a legal agreement, it is not binding on either company. As an agreement in principle, it should not be taken as a template or basis for Congressional action.
“The fate of the Internet is too large a matter to be decided by negotiations involving two companies, even companies as big as Verizon and Google, or even the six companies and groups engaged in other discussions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on similar topics.
For whatever reason, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues its misguided game of “Let’s Make A Deal” with the big telecom empires. Since the end of June, FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus has convened representatives from AT&T, Verizon, the National Cable Telecommunications Association, Google, Skype and the Open Internet Coalition in an effort to try to have those negotiators do what FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski apparently won’t do – make a decision about the future of broadband and the Internet in this country.
As far apart as the parties are, it’s increasingly unlikely that any overarching deal will be reached, even though negotiating sessions are scheduled for today (Aug. 4) and tomorrow (Aug. 5), following a marathon Saturday session on July 31. The Empire is stuck in 2005, giving nothing up and expecting surrender from the other side.
preservesthe openness of the Internet and the public's access to knowledge, promotes creativity through balanced copyright, and upholds and protects the rights of consumers to use innovative technology lawfully.
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