The Telecommunications Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council and CEA jointly went on the record in favor of expanding in-flight mobile connectivity (IMC), including voice calls on commercial flight, in reply comments filed at the FCC. With the FCC’s comment period wrapped up, FCC officials say it’s hard to predict next steps on what has been one of the most controversial proposals under Chairman Tom Wheeler.
The FCC, as expected, voted 3-2 Thursday to explore the potential of Internet fast lanes. But Chairman Tom Wheeler wanted to make one point clear: Fast lanes for some will not mean slow lanes for others. “I don’t like the idea that the Internet could become divided into haves and have nots,” he said. “I will work to see that does not happen.” Wheeler said he wants rules in which, if an ISP slows speeds below what the consumer bought, “it would be commercially unreasonable and therefore prohibited.” Republican commissioners said net neutrality rules are a government solution in search of a problem.
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to explore the potential of Internet fast lanes, as expected (CD May 15 p1). But Chairman Tom Wheeler wanted to make one point clear: Fast lanes for some will not mean slow lanes for others. “I don’t like the idea that the Internet could become divided into haves and have nots,” he said. “I will work to see that does not happen.” Wheeler said he wants rules in which, if an ISP slows speeds below what the consumer bought, “it would be commercially unreasonable and therefore prohibited.” Republican commissioners said net neutrality rules are a government solution in search of a problem.
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to explore the potential of Internet fast lanes, as expected (WID May 15 p1). But Chairman Tom Wheeler wanted to make one point clear: Fast lanes for some will not mean slow lanes for others. “I don’t like the idea that the Internet could become divided into haves and have nots,” he said. “I will work to see that does not happen.” Wheeler said he wants rules in which, if an ISP slows speeds below what the consumer bought, “it would be commercially unreasonable and therefore prohibited.” Republican commissioners said net neutrality rules are a government solution in search of a problem.
With a small group of protesters camping outside at the FCC, Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai put out a statement Thursday urging FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to delay the May 15 vote on a net neutrality NPRM. Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on Wednesday also asked Wheeler to delay a vote (CD May 8 p23). An FCC spokesman said Wednesday the vote will take place as planned. “I have grave concerns about the Chairman’s proposal on Internet regulation and do not believe that it should be considered at the Commission’s May meeting,” Pai said (http://bit.ly/RrMzJh). “Instead, I believe that the Commission should focus for the next week on getting the rules for the incentive auction right."
With a small group of protesters camping outside at the FCC, Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai put out a statement Thursday urging FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to delay the May 15 vote on a net neutrality NPRM. Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on Wednesday also asked Wheeler to delay a vote (WID May 8 p14). An FCC spokesman said Wednesday the vote will take place as planned. “I have grave concerns about the Chairman’s proposal on Internet regulation and do not believe that it should be considered at the Commission’s May meeting,” Pai said (http://bit.ly/RrMzJh). “Instead, I believe that the Commission should focus for the next week on getting the rules for the incentive auction right."
The FCC approved a further NPRM on sharing in the 3.5 GHz band, with both Republican commissioners complaining that the exclusion zones proposed are much too big for the band to reach its potential as a laboratory for spectrum sharing. The notice largely proposes the same exclusion zones as the original rulemaking proposal from 2012, as was expected (CD April 23 p22). Use of the spectrum would be restricted inside the zones to protect government incumbents.
How fast does the Internet connection to schools and libraries really need to be? That question was a major focus of a Broadband US TV panel webcast Tuesday. Panelists disagreed on the need for further research into proper broadband speeds to schools, as some argued the FCC has to act fast, lest students continue to fall behind their international counterparts. As the FCC works on reforms to its E-rate program, the role of commercial networks -- and the agency’s ability to use E-rate funds for infrastructure buildout -- was also up for debate. At some point, the FCC will have to tackle contribution reform if it wants to continue pouring money into upgrades, panelists said.
How fast does the Internet connection to schools and libraries really need to be? That question was a major focus of a Broadband US TV panel webcast Tuesday. Panelists disagreed on the need for further research into proper broadband speeds to schools, as some argued the FCC has to act fast, lest students continue to fall behind their international counterparts. As the FCC works on reforms to its E-rate program, the role of commercial networks -- and the agency’s ability to use E-rate funds for infrastructure buildout -- was also up for debate. At some point, the FCC will have to tackle contribution reform if it wants to continue pouring money into upgrades, panelists said.
The FCC unanimously approved an order that prohibits competing top-four TV stations in a market from engaging in joint retransmission consent negotiations, as was expected (CD March 28 p1). The FCC is “leveling the negotiating table,” Chairman Tom Wheeler said Monday at the agency’s monthly meeting Monday. The order is aimed at helping to “curtail practices that would put upward pressure on cable companies,” he said. Joint negotiation by these stations “leads to higher retransmission consent fees because the practice reduces competition between the stations,” the Media Bureau said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1kjYotA). The commission also agreed to seek comment on a further notice of proposed rulemaking that looks at whether to eliminate or modify network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules.