The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“We understand that open network provisions of the stimulus package are part of the final agreement and that the legislation will use the Senate version of the bill to allow some sort of interconnection and nondiscrimination requirements to be part of the conditions of the grant money to be distributed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
“The open network requirements were necessary because the public deserves benefits from the large sums of public money that will be distributed. We are pleased that Congress has taken the fundamental step of recognizing that open networks will help to create jobs and to stimulate economic activity in areas that are now unserved with broadband service.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.