Tag Archives: lobbist

Cable lobby says FCC launched assault on industry “without provocation”

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photo: NCTA/Flickr, Ars Technica

In today’s speech, [CEO Michael Powell, National Cable & Telecommunications Association] said cable companies face lots of video competition, though presumably he meant from online video providers rather than from other cable companies. – Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica

On net neutrality, Internet providers are betrayed by one of their own

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At CES, [Tom Wheeler,FCC] hinted that he wants to craft broadband rules based on the ones that apply to cellular voice, which is a common carrier service but doesn’t face rate regulation. Mobile voice’s common carrier status was established in section 332 of the Communications Act, which Wheeler helped negotiate as head of the CTIA 20 years ago. A framework like this one could apply to fixed and mobile broadband, establishing requirements for reasonable rates and practices, a prohibition against unjust or unreasonable discrimination in rates and practices, and a complaint process. – Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica 
(Full Story: http://ars.to/1Iwi2gG )

This video opposing net neutrality is too ridiculous to be criticized

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The worst propaganda is a YouTube video deceitfully titled “Clearing up Net Neutrality.” Produced by the conservative lobbying group FreedomWorks, which has reportedly taken money from both Verizon and AT&T, the 86-second production features a public relations employee hurling technologically illiterate accusations at supporters of the open Internet. The video, which is calculated to play on the layperson’s ignorance, unintentionally reveals the outright falsehoods of net neutrality opponents’ arguments. […] Most viewers are probably unaware that [Iris Somberg]’s organization has received funding from the very companies who stand to profit most from the death of net neutrality. FreedomWorks wants those naive individuals to believe that it’s actually speaking out against an injustice. The lie would be insulting if it weren’t so transparent. – Dell Cameron,The Daily Dot
(Full Story: http://ift.tt/14wmhvR )

AT&T: Cities should never offer Internet service where ISPs already do or might later

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“GONs [government-owned networks] should not be utilized where the private sector already is providing broadband or can be expected to do so in a reasonable timeframe,” AT&T attorneys wrote in a filing with the FCC on Friday. “Although many GONs have failed, or at least failed to live up to expectations, GONs can nonetheless discourage private sector investment because of understandable concerns by private sector entities of a non-level playing field. And any policy that risks diminishing private sector investment would be short-sighted and unwise.” – Jon Brodkin,Ars Technica
(Full Story: http://ift.tt/W6UCwG )

Comcast, Time Warner Cable help honor Mignon Clyburn amid merger review

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Comcast and Time Warner Cable are sponsoring a dinner honoring FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn at a time when the agency is weighing whether to approve a multibillion-dollar merger between the two companies. […] The contributions come as FCC and Justice Department officials review the $45 billion megadeal, which would give Comcast control of about 30 percent of U.S. pay-TV subscribers and about 40 percent of the country’s broadband market. […] Comcast and Time Warner Cable, like the rest of the telecom industry, have robust lobbying operations in Washington and are working hard to win approval for their proposed merger. – Alex Byers,POLITICO

One Million Net Neutrality Comments Vs. $42 Million in ISP Lobbying

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Net neutrality advocates have passion on their side — last week the Federal Communications Commission announced it had received a total of 1.07 million comments about its controversial fast-lane net neutrality plan, which would allow Internet providers to charge content companies for prioritized service to subscribers. But the newly released lobbying figures show that broadband providers continue to far outspend companies that support stronger net neutrality rules. – Amy Schatz,Re/code http://ift.tt/1qB6Zzx

The FCC wants to let cities build their own broadband. House Republicans disagree.

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Two of the most famous examples are Chattanooga, TN, and Lafayette, LA. Both services offer internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second — 10 to 100 times faster than what’s available in most parts of the country — at relatively affordable prices. […] [Conservatives] argue that governments aren’t tech-savvy enough to keep their broadband networks on the cutting edge. And they also claim that it’s unfair for the government to use taxpayer funds to compete with the private sector. Unsurprisingly, this argument is heartily endorsed by incumbent telecommunications companies, which have lobbied and litigated aggressively to discourage municipalities from getting into the broadband business. – Timothy B. Lee,Vox  http://ift.tt/1jNWQMO

This Is How Comcast Is Astroturfing the Net Neutrality Issue

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Yesterday, […] the American Enterprise Institute’s Richard Bennett, wrote a story for leading tech website Gigaom in favor of the FCC’s new Net neutrality rules. Bennett did not reveal the Institute’s relationship with Comcast at any point within the piece. Comcast and its cable lobby partners spent over $70 million in the last decade lobbying for the new net neutrality rules that would allow them to create a slow lane on the web, charge more for tiered services, and artificially slow traffic to competitors. […] [T]he Institute’s most read stories on Net neutrality clearly favor the FCC’s new plan for a regulated Internet. One, titled “Time to give up the Net neutrality quest” was reprinted in The Wall Street Journal’s Opinion section. Another, titled “Net neutrality is a bad idea that’s run its course,” was reprinted on RealClearMarkets.com. Neither Bennett nor the publication discloses his employer’s ties to Comcast in either piece, but both identify the American Enterprise Institute next to his byline. – Ben Collins,Esquire  http://ift.tt/1sy7wlE