The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s testimony today before the Senate Commerce Committee was right on the money when he said that the Commission should take very seriously whether Internet network management by a cable or telephone company ‘arbitrarily blocks or degrades a particular application.’
“By saying there should be ‘heightened scrutiny’ if it appears that a telephone or cable company is selectively picking out some applications for special treatment, Martin put the companies on notice that their management techniques need to ‘further a compelling or at least an important/legitimate interest would need to be tailored to fit the exact interest.’
“The chairman’s remarks mean that Comcast and other companies are out of bounds when they target a particular protocol, such as peer-to-peer applications, for throttling regardless of the time of day (or night) or the traffic levels on the network.
“While we continue to support legislation to make certain that the Internet is guided by non-discrimination principles that are well established in law, we are encouraged by the chairman’s statement today that the he is willing to defend some measure of non-discrimination in proceedings before the agency.
“We also appreciate the continued strong support for Internet non-discrimination from Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John Kerry (D-MA) at today’s hearing, which provided powerful testimony why consumers and innovators alike need the protections of Net Neutrality.”
Martin’s testimony is here.
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