From commercial companies to political campaigns, advertising dollars are increasingly being spent on the web, rather than on traditional media. Jeopardize this arrangement and a vast number of free Internet features and functions will evaporate in short order.
— Michael O'Rielly
Importantly, while PBS is subject to some of the Commission's Kid Vid rules, its business model is designed around community programming, and its efforts will continue with or without Commission mandates.
Arguably, the application of complete libertarianism leads one towards anarchy.
The Federal Communications Commission, where I have the pleasure of serving, generally has done a good job of providing an environment for Wi-Fi to flourish in the U.S.
Well, the United States will continue to be a world leader in wireless communications.
Regulatory creep usually starts with calls for 'regulatory parity.' The mantra will be, if you are going to impose certain regulations, then it is only fair to stick it to all market participants equally.
The overall effect of the Kid Vid rules has been to force networks to prioritize less popular content. Some of this programming attracts reliable viewership among older children, but younger children largely aren't watching.
I can assure you that the United States intends to pursue the best course of action to meet its own spectrum needs.
Allowing staff to dictate frameworks and policy outcomes without appropriate checks by elected leaders has corrosive effects.
Instead of fostering investment and innovation through deregulation, the FCC will be devoting its resources to adopting new rules without any evidence that consumers are unable to access the content of their choice.
I have no interest in interfering or involving myself in journalistic integrity or process.
I've always said that anytime Congress can provide us direction and answer the question of how they would like the commission to implement something, then I am totally supportive.
First, a company cannot knowingly make misrepresentations and inaccurate statements before the Commission... It appears that Netflix made accusations of wrongdoing by ISPs, all the while knowing that its own practices were one of the causes of consumer video downgrading.
I think net neutrality needs to be explored in a broader sense.
It is important to note that Internet access is not a necessity in the day-to-day lives of Americans and doesn't even come close to the threshold to be considered a basic human right.
Net neutrality rules have been premised on the incentives and ability of ISPs to engage in harmful conduct, not actual harms. I don't believe we should be regulating based on hypothetical problems.
Erasing the ALJ process, even if it takes legislation, will not deny anyone due individual process, generate added litigation risks or substantially increase workloads for commissioners or staff.
Everyone should acknowledge a simple truth: The heart and soul of today's Internet economy is the collection of data, mainly for use in targeted advertising.
Conservative beliefs are not based on personal whims or feelings or polls but rather anchored in defensible core, time-tested positions. It's what makes a conservative somewhat boring compared to the liberal, independent, or populist.
Some may try to argue that conservatism and libertarianism are contradictory perspectives. But I disagree.
One of the best ways to realize Wi-Fi's impact is to imagine life without it.
I view edge providers as a significant bright spot in our struggling economy. They are tirelessly innovating, growing, and meeting - often exceeding - consumer expectations.
Both Republicans and Democrats championed a structure that allowed the 'application layer' of Internet architecture to be free from government intervention, apart from occasional Federal Trade Commission activity.
To be sure, educational programming likely benefits some of the children who seek it out, particularly those whose families can't afford the myriad options available today on cable or Netflix.
Ideally, the ITU must be made up of truly visionary leaders - those willing to do the hard work to get critical spectrum bands realigned and put to their highest use.
While I originally sought broader reforms to the Kid Vid regulations, what we have ended up with is a reasoned and balanced compromise. In the end, this effort takes modest but important steps toward a freer television market, and it's a deal for which nearly all sides can claim some measure of victory, especially the children.
The legend of a cable company trying to break the Internet makes scary bedtime stories for children of telecom geeks, but it is not reality.
If any company goes and does something stupid, the market is going to address that, and the rest of the industry is going to go and address that and say that is not accepted behavior, that is not an accepted practice, and it will self-correct.
Despite the intended purpose of 911 fees, some states have diverted these resources to nonrelated or, worse yet, nonpublic safety purposes.
Quite simply, when D.C. Metro riders - often the first to see a problem developing - try to notify first responders, they frequently are unable to receive a signal strong enough to make a simple call to 9-1-1 to report the emergency.
Human rights are standards of behavior that are inherent in every human being. They are the core principles underpinning human interaction in society. These include liberty, due process or justice, and freedom of religious beliefs. I find little sympathy with efforts to try to equate Internet access with these higher, fundamental concepts.
The use of automated technology generally translates into lower costs, freeing up resources for more efficient uses, including lower prices.
I know that there is a near unanimous view in Congress that state or local taxes on Internet access would directly deter the ability of consumers to obtain and utilize the Internet. If that is an accepted premise, as it should be, the same concept should apply to the net neutrality debate and its certainty to increase consumer bills.
Unlike government entities, the private sector has the technical knowhow and experience to build and operate complex communications systems.
American families want high-quality children's television programming. Unfortunately, due to outdated rules, broadcasters are hamstrung from meeting market demand.
In reality, anyone can call themselves a conservative. There is no secret handshake or written test to prove your bona fides. But the true conservative reaches outcomes by respecting and heeding to well-developed, sound principles.
Maybe Wi-Fi is a good technology to stretch existing networks beyond their edges to more rural portions of our nation. Similarly, Wi-Fi may be the cheapest and fastest way to bring Internet access to the huge populations of the world now without it.
To say that Wi-Fi is a critical component of Internet access in today's always-connected society doesn't do it justice.
During its retransmission dispute, CBS pulled its signal off of certain cable TV systems - and also blocked all Time Warner broadband customers from accessing CBS's Web-based content, even outside the territory of dispute. This is precisely the kind of content-blocking broadband providers are so often accused of but aren't actually doing.
Federal law, implemented by the Federal Communications Commission, helped kill network broadcasts of Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny and their modern equivalents, while effectively issuing do-not-resuscitate orders for classics like 'In the News.'
For a gut punch of nostalgia, consider that Saturday morning cartoons are now largely a thing of the past.
Preventing staff from having too much influence and decision-making power is fairly easy. Appropriate procedural safeguards can be installed to prevent staff from, among other things, self-dealing, making decisions in an isolated manner, or committing funds without oversight.
Gone are the days when everyone had to tune in at the same time and channel each week to watch the newest episodes of a favorite show.
In the end, I am confident that we can revise our rules to provide necessary and appropriate flexibility for local broadcasters while preserving and/or improving the experience of those watching children's programming.
The goal of an ISP or a broadband provider is to get as many subscribers as possible. It's not to try to annihilate consumer interests.
We owe it to consumers to treat their dollars with respect and to double- and triple-check our assumptions about complex marketplaces rather than getting locked into a regulatory tunnel vision that will ultimately leave consumers with fewer, more expensive choices.
I have seen throughout my professional career that the robust exchange of ideas and bipartisan compromises can bring about the best policy results.
People can and do live without Internet access, and many lead very successful lives.
Repeat after me. 'Robocall' is not a bad word.
Notably, the FCC fact sheet regarding the net neutrality plan does not mention any accommodations for small providers.
