Washington –
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed the FCC adopt as existing principles
to keep the Internet open, and he also added two additional principles to adopt
– non-discrimination and transparency/disclosure of network management
practices.
Genachowski spoke
on the need to preserve network neutrality at the Brookings Institution Monday.
He said the rise of challenges to the open public Internet puts the nation at a
crossroads. He said that doing nothing would be a “dangerous retreat” from core
principles of openness and freedom that has made the Internet so successful and
so critical as a tool for innovation and communication.
He said adding
a prohibition on discrimination to existing principles would mean the Internet
Service Providers could not discriminate against particular Internet content or
applications. This way, Internet users would decide what content and
applications succeed and ISPs can still do network management – especially to
handle heavy volume Internet users. The transparency principle would be
implemented by new disclosure rules that ISPs would have to be transparent
about the network management practices they employ.
The Computer
& Communications Industry Association agrees with Genachowski’s statement
that a free and open Internet benefits consumers and business alike and that
waiting too long to preserve a free and open Internet would be too late.
The following
statement can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“CCIA is
pleased to learn that the FCC is going to work on strengthening access to the
open Internet by preserving the neutrality we have all come to rely on, so that
ISPs will not discriminate among end users, content or applications. The agency has the support of the Chairman
of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and many other Members of Congress
in this endeavor. Access to an
open public Internet is characteristic of most industrialized democracies
around the world where people wonder why it is controversial here.
“Adding rules
for nondiscrimination and transparency/disclosure of network management
practices would keep the open, robust Internet so many people and businesses
rely on in their daily lives. CCIA supports these principles and would urge the
FCC to adopt them.”
“With so many people depending on the
Internet throughout the day to do business, search for information and connect
with family and friends this announcement that Genachowski will work with the
FCC for these core principles is a welcome relief. This proposal fulfills a
commitment to Internet openness made during President Obama’s campaign.
“All those
working together to expand high speed broadband access across the country
recognize the value of this service for businesses of all sizes and Internet
users. We all agree Internet service is too valuable to leave some Americans
behind because of where they live. But Internet users need access not just to
high speed service, but also unfettered access to content online whether it’s
free or for purchase. Basic Internet access is too valuable to allow huge
portions of available capacity to be hijacked by private deals with large
corporations.
“Broadband
adoption has been a prominent concern expressed by ISPs in the FCC's National
Broadband Plan proceeding. Where
broadband infrastructure is available, households will finder greater value in
monthly broadband access subscriptions if they offer access to all relevant
online content and applications, including new and innovative services.
“The FCC will
not regulate the Internet. But
neither should a few large corporations.
CCIA supports reasonable network management and even higher prices for
top bandwidth consumers. Greater
broadband capacity build-out and competition should be the ultimate goal, not
private control of online activities.
Adding
nondiscrimination and transparency rules would provide reassurances that
whoever controls the pipe will not also control content.”
About CCIA:
CCIA is an
international, nonprofit association of computer and communications industry
firms, representing a broad cross section of the industry. CCIA is dedicated to
preserving full, fair and open competition throughout our industry. Our members
employ more than 600,000 workers and generate annual revenues in excess of $200
billion.
