Thursday, May 6, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski today announced plans to reclassify the transmission of broadband Internet services as telecommunications services.
Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, made the following statement:
“The FCC is taking action to ensure it has the appropriate authority to preserve an open Internet and protect consumers. Consumers have long understood the difference between the companies they pay monthly for access to the Internet, and the content that they access on the Internet.
“From a consumer perspective, the Chairman is taking a sound, sensible approach to a serious challenge. This is a reasonable, common-sense way to maintain the status quo and preserve the ability of consumers to make their own choices over which websites to visit, which software to download and which online services to use.
“In the wake of the dangerous precedent set by the Comcast case, the FCC appears to have found a way to ensure it has the authority to protect consumers from potential anti-competitive actions by providers of broadband services. The framework outlined by the Chairman will give the Commission the ability to move forward promptly to meet the goals of the National Broadband Plan. This approach will let the Commission develop public policy that truly helps secure affordable access to high-speed Internet service for households across the country. The devil will be in the details of the notice that the Commission issues, and we look forward to working with the Commission to ensure broadband consumers are protected.”
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