Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Public Knowledge

Public Interest Groups Urge FCC Chairman to Delay Net Neutrality Vote to Dismantle Rules

Robbie McBeath — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 16:14:52 +0000

The Benton Foundation joined Public Knowledge and 40 other consumer protection groups, digital divide advocates, and local government agencies -- including New York City -- in a letter urging Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to delay the vote on the “Restoring Internet Freedom” Draft Order, which would roll back the agency’s net neutrality rules if adopted. Specifically, the groups propose the FCC delay the vote until a pending court case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit -- the en banc review in Federal Trade Commission v. AT&T Mobility -- resolves.

Groups urge this delay because the Ninth Circuit might decide that the FTC has no jurisdiction over broadband providers. If so, and if the FCC rolls back the net neutrality rules December 14, then neither the FTC nor the FCC will have the authority to regulate broadband providers. The letter states, “Rushing to a vote before the Ninth Circuit resolves this decision cavalierly risks the purported safeguards that you and other supporters of the Draft Order have repeatedly declared will protect consumers from abusive or anti-competitive practices."

Benton Content:

https://www.publicknowledge.org/press-release/public-interest-groups-urge-fcc-ch…

https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/group-nyc-fcc-letter-request-for-delay…

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Source:

Public Knowledge

Priority:

High

Send date:

Tue, 12/05/2017

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 12/4/2017

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Mon, 12/04/2017

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Agenda

Internet/Broadband

Regulatory classification

Network Neutrality

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

How the FCC Can Safeguard Broadband Affordability Initiatives Without Rate Regulation

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:25:44 +0000

On April 25, the Federal Communications Commission will vote to reinstate the net neutrality rules and resume real regulatory oversight over broadband. It is critical that the text of this reinstated regulatory framework does not inadvertently undermine its own objectives in regards to broadband affordability. The draft text of the 2024 “Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet” Order is primarily concerned with the mechanics of reclassifying broadband as a Title II service and the regulations we’ve come to associate with net neutrality—prohibiting blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. These actions are essential to ensuring the internet is an open space for commerce, innovation, and speech. The draft Order also distances itself from “rate regulation.” In the days of the monopoly telephone system, the FCC and state regulators reviewed and approved the rates that phone companies could charge, and the FCC has decided to “forbear from” any of the statutory provisions that would give it the authority to do this in the broadband context. Thats fine, but there are some potential ambiguities in the draft Order. First, “rate regulation” has a specific meaning, but broadband providers have taken to labeling almost any form of regulation they don’t like as “rate regulation.” Second, the FCC’s stance towards state laws that do not conflict with, but are different than, its own policies could be clarified, especially in this area. Industry advocates and their champions in Congress have consistently weaponized overly broad interpretations of “rate regulation” as a cudgel against affordability programs and requirements, and it's critical that the FCC clarify that forbearance from “rate regulation” does not impede the authority of the agency itself, state agencies, or other federal agencies to require providers to offer discounted affordability programs for qualifying subscribers.

Benton Content:

https://publicknowledge.org/how-the-fcc-can-safeguard-broadband-affordability-in…

Teaser:

The FCC should clarify their draft Order's comments on rate regulations to avoid impeding efforts to ensure broadband affordability for all

Source:

Public Knowledge

Author:

Nat Purser

Send date:

Fri, 04/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/25/2024

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Publish Date:

Thu, 04/25/2024

Coverage Type:

Analysis

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Digital Divide

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Universal Broadband

Regulatory classification

Level of Government

Federal

Marginalized Populations

Low-income

Network Neutrality

How the FCC Can Safeguard Broadband Affordability Initiatives Without Rate Regulation (Public Knowledge)

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:01:28 +0000

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How the FCC Can Safeguard Broadband Affordability Initiatives Without Rate Regulation

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Public Knowledge

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Broadband Providers Are Not Copyright Cops: Why the Sony v. Cox Case Threatens Internet Users (Public Knowledge)

zwalker@benton.org — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:16:16 +0000

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Broadband Providers Are Not Copyright Cops: Why the Sony v. Cox Case Threatens Internet Users

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Source:

Public Knowledge

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Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/29/2024

Public Interest Groups Urge Congress To Renew FCC Auction Authority, Fund ACP

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:47:59 +0000

On March 21, Public Knowledge joined 24 other public interest and consumer advocacy groups in a letter to congressional leaders about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The groups urged Congress to renew the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) spectrum auction authority and use some of the projected revenue to help fund the ACP. "Congress has a unique opportunity to advance our national spectrum goals while simultaneously generating sufficient revenue to support the connectivity needs of millions of Americans," said the letter. "We urge you to take swift action to protect these gains in connectivity by passing legislation to renew the FCC’s auction authority and fund the ACP." The groups also highlighted the financial benefits of the ACP, adding "Due to the interconnected nature of the internet, the ACP offers a host of direct and indirect social and economic benefits. Research analysis from the Benton Institute has shown that for every dollar of ACP subsidy, there are nearly two dollars in financial returns to those using the program, including gains in professional productivity and opportunities as well as time saved from access to online commerce."

Benton Content:

https://publicknowledge.org/policy/public-interest-spectrum-hearing-acp-letter/

Teaser:

Consumer advocacy groups urge Congress to renew the FCC’s spectrum auction authority to help fund the ACP

Source:

Public Knowledge

Send date:

Fri, 03/22/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/21/2024

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 03/21/2024

Coverage Type:

Letter

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Digital Divide

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Broadband Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Universal Broadband

Legislation

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Level of Government

Federal

Marginalized Populations

Low-income

Spectrum

Auctions

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

Public Knowledge Urges FCC To Reinstate Broadband Authority, Bring Back Net Neutrality Protections

benton — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 22:09:38 +0000

In comments filed at the Federal Communications Commission, Public Knowledge commended the FCC for acting to restore net neutrality as well as creating the proper authority allowing for commonsense consumer protections for broadband users. The FCC previously classified broadband as “telecommunications” in 2015 as part of the agency’s Open Internet Order, which enacted net neutrality rules barring broadband providers from throttling connection speeds, blocking websites, and accepting payment for prioritizing traffic. Millions of Americans expressed support for these rules by submitting comments with the FCC, but the agency, under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, changed course in its unpopular 2017 repeal, which abdicated FCC authority over broadband completely – an unprecedented move that left consumers vulnerable to deteriorating broadband lines that have not been maintained or upgraded, network traffic being blocked or throttled, and rising prices due to lessened broadband and online competition.

Benton Content:

https://publicknowledge.org/policy/open-internet-comments-to-fcc/

Teaser:

“The FCC’s proposal to reclassify broadband as a Title II telecommunications service is a necessary step to ensure that the internet remains an open platform for innovation and free expression"

Source:

Public Knowledge

Send date:

Fri, 12/15/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 12/14/2023

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Publish Date:

Thu, 12/14/2023

Coverage Type:

Analysis

Digital Content

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Internet/Broadband

Regulatory classification

Legislation

Communications Act of 1934

Telecommunications Act of 1996

Level of Government

Federal

Network Neutrality

Public Knowledge Urges Supreme Court To Strike Down Unconstitutional State Social Media LawsPublic Knowledge Urges Supreme Court (Public Knowledge)

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 19:34:21 +0000

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Public Knowledge Urges Supreme Court To Strike Down Unconstitutional State Social Media LawsPublic Knowledge Urges Supreme Court

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Source:

Public Knowledge

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Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 12/7/2023

Public Knowledge Welcomes New Policy Counsel, Director of Government Affairs To Bolster Advocacy Efforts (Public Knowledge)

benton — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:26:47 +0000

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Public Knowledge Welcomes New Policy Counsel, Director of Government Affairs To Bolster Advocacy Efforts

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Source:

Public Knowledge

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Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 8/7/2023

Public Knowledge Welcomes Connect Humanity's Brian Vo as New Member to Board of Directors (Public Knowledge)

benton — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 18:22:09 +0000

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Public Knowledge Welcomes Connect Humanity's Brian Vo as New Member to Board of Directors

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Source:

Public Knowledge

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Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/18/2023

Public Knowledge Files Comments Urging NTIA To Adopt a National Spectrum Strategy Based on Public Interest Values

dclay@benton.org — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:47:28 +0000

Public Knowledge and New America’s Open Technology Institute, on behalf of the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, filed comments with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to the agency’s Request for Comment on developing a national spectrum strategy. The filing urges the NTIA to adopt a national spectrum strategy that will not only secure our nation’s future as a wireless leader but also serve the public by moving us toward a future that serves and includes all Americans. Creating a wireless future we can all enjoy requires guiding policies that are rooted in the public interest, rather than narrowly focusing on a specific industry or technology like 6G or Wi-Fi.

Benton Content:

https://publicknowledge.org/policy/group-ntia-comments-on-national-spectrum-stra…

https://publicknowledge.org/back-to-the-spectrum-future-how-a-public-interest-fr…

Teaser:

Public Knowledge filed comments urging the NTIA to adopt a national spectrum strategy rooted in core public interest principles.

Source:

Public Knowledge

Author:

Kathleen Burke

Michael Calabrese

Send date:

Wed, 04/19/2023