Here is an excerpt:

Broadband Internet access is critical to improving virtually every aspect of a consumer’s life. From improving economic status, access to health care, education, personal finance, purchasing, connections to family and friends, and civic and community involvement, broadband is the great enabling technology of our generation. Broadband has the power to enhance quality of life for all Americans, so it is vitally important that consumer interests are examined and fully represented in any discussions by the government concerning the regulation of broadband services. The litmus test for all regulatory measures should be, “Does it benefit consumers?” So will the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed regulations of broadband services ultimately benefit consumers? That’s a question well worth pondering.

In March, the FCC released its long-anticipated National Broadband Plan to Congress, with plans to ensure that “by the year 2020, at least 100 million U.S. homes should have affordable access to actual download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and actual upload speeds of at least 50 megabits per second.” Many people however, have access but choose to remain disconnected, some citing fears about privacy, safety and security as primary barriers to going online. In fact, the FCC’s broadband plan states that the number one way in which government can influence the broadband ecosystem is to “design policies to ensure robust competition and, as a result maximize consumer welfare, innovation and investment.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/08/31/congress-not-the-fcc-should-regulate-broadband-service/#ixzz0yD29dANU

“Congress needs to step in and clarify what power the FCC has over broadband. The FCC-brokered industry talks may have been jettisoned by the agency in the wake of the Google/Verizon reports of an agreement on network management and managed services. But just because the FCC isn’t into the public brokering business anymore doesn’t mean there isn’t a deal to be had, or that some of those stakeholders can’t and won’t still talk.”

As you may know, Congress was back in session for just one day this week, allowing H. CON. RES. 311 to gain the support of 15 additional members of Congress. I applaud these Representatives once again for their strong support of this important resolution.

This resolution is especially important for consumers because this issue is much larger than a regulatory fix. Consumers who are low-income, aging, disabled and first-time users will gain the most from a legislative process that will ensure the protection of consumer rights and competitive pricing. A stable, vibrant marketplace that encourages investment, innovation, choice and competition will be most beneficial to consumers – through legislation, Congress can work to ensure that consumers benefit from proper classification of broadband.

1. that it is the responsibility of Congress to determine the regulatory authority of the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadband Internet services; and

2. that the Federal Communications Commission should suspend any further action on its proceeding to extend its traditional communications regulatory authority to include broadband Internet services until such time as Congress delegates such authority to the Commission.

Since its introduction on Friday, this resolution has gained the support of 49 members of Congress. As an advocate of the consumer interest in this issue, I applaud these members of Congress for taking steps to preserve the competition and innovation that exist on the Internet, making sure that consumers receive an optimal online experience.

Paul discussed one significant issue: the FCC’s proposal to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.  It was quite interesting to learn about the history of the regulatory treatment of broadband services, and to understand the impact of the recent Comcast Court decision that ruled that the FCC does not have jurisdiction in the regulation of broadband.  While the FCC is trying to figure out how to implement parts of the National Broadband Plan released this March, it also needs to consider all the parties that are impacted by any change in the regulatory treatment of broadband.   Congress has weighed in on this and a bipartisan majority of Members have told the FCC not to move forward with plans to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service.

We discussed the current conversations that the FCC is conducting with various interested parties, attempting to reach some resolution that might thoughtfully address concerns.  Paul shared his thoughts that the FCC needs to make a meaningful attempt to negotiate an agreement about reclassification before releasing an order.  This is an important issue with serious implications for investment, competition, innovation, and of course, consumers.

Consumers will be most affected by reclassification because of changes in investment, competition and innovation. Many people argue that providers will be less likely to put funds into innovation if broadband is reclassified. Lack of investment in innovation could lead to fewer jobs and possibly even higher costs for consumers. Members of Congress argue that they were elected to represent the people – and should be able to represent their constituents in this debate so as to make sure that the consumers voice is best heard.

Following the hearing, new reports confirmed that Senator Kerry will introduce privacy legislation in addition to the two privacy bills already introduced in the House of Representatives.

Click here to visit the Committee’s website and view more information on the hearing.

I offered three points during my presentation: 1) Privacy is important for all users of the Internet; 2) There are several ways to help consumers address their online privacy concerns; and 3) Currently, there is activity in Congress and the federal agencies regarding online privacy and other consumer issues. Also discussed were consumer options to address online privacy, including  education and awareness, online privacy tools (privacy settings on sites) and industry tools.

As part of my overview of Congressional activity, I summarized the two legislative responses to the issue of online privacy: a draft bill circulated by sponsors Representatives Boucher (D-VA) and Stearns (R-FL) and a bill introduced by Representative Rush (D-IL).  Additionally, the FTC is actively involved in both the enforcement of privacy laws and consumer education efforts.

The National Broadband Plan, released by the Federal Communications Commission in March, includes recommendations in Chapter 4 on privacy protections and is an important document focused on broadband access and adoption, particularly for underserved populations (minorities, older individuals, non-English speaking, and disabled). The plan clearly set forth privacy as one of the FCC’s priorities for the coming years during the implementation of the Plan.

While privacy is of chief concern from a consumer perspective, there is also an important debate going on Capitol Hill about the authority of the FCC to regulate broadband services and the level of regulation needed for broadband. During my remarks on the panel, I discussed the bipartisan majority in Congress that has called for a legislative approach, rather than the FCC imposing new regulations that could stifle investment, innovation, and competition. During the discussion I noted that I concur with a sizeable number of minority organizations, such as the NAACP, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and the Japanese American Citizens League who have sent letters urging that Congress, not the FCC, address the issue of the broadband plan’s implementation and the appropriate level of regulation for broadband.  Click here to view my letter to the Hill on this issue.

Click here to view a copy of the Hill letter.

The benefits of being online for Hispanic users are real, and the release of the National Broadband Plan was critical in ensuring that everyone has access to broadband. As the nation expects a new wave of people coming online as the Plan is implemented, it’s important to be aware of some of the challenges that new users of the Internet can face, especially those using English as a second language.

While the Internet is filled with the promise of new tools and services that augment our everyday lives, life online unfortunately involves the potential of vulnerability to spam and so-called “phishing” schemes that attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by pretending to be a trustworthy source in an email. Recent adopters are often the least adept at identifying and avoiding these pitfalls, while seasoned users have become accustomed to looking for the hallmarks of deceptive communications.

As consumers we all have a role in taking responsibility for our lives online, and just as we follow best practices for safety in the offline world, we must do so in life online. And the partnership that individual users have with their Internet Service Providers is a critical one in ensuring that the Internet is navigable safely and securely, especially for those in the beginning stages of learning the “rules of the road” on the web. ISPs have sophisticated means of managing their networks, staving off invisible threats to our online experience, and ensuring that information flows efficiently and securely.

If the goal is getting new users in Hispanic communities online, we need an intent focus on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan. Recently the FCC has proposed that broadband be reclassified as a phone service under Title II of the Communications Act, without knowledge about how these regulations could impact the marketplace or the consumer. In order to protect consumers we should continue to support a marketplace that encourages investment, innovation, choice and competition, rather than a diversion into regulation that could interfere with the investment key to realizing universal broadband.

A bipartisan majority of 247 members of Congress have responded to the FCC, asking that Congress be permitted to review and manage the significant change that the FCC has proposed. As a consumer advocate, I am compelled to agree with Congress. I believe that these issues are bigger than a regulatory fix that analysts have estimated could cause uncertainty in the marketplace, potentially harming consumers.

At a point in time when the Hispanic user has everything to gain from the innovation and competition that the current regulatory framework has fostered, anything that could serve as a roadblock to getting Hispanic communities online should be viewed with trepidation.

Debra Berlyn is President of Consumer Policy Solutions and has over 18 years of consumer advocacy experience, handling in-depth regulatory and legislative issues. She is a recognized, national voice on the issue of handling online safety and other telecommunications issues.

During my interview, I highlighted the consumer issues that revolve around online safety and security and the shared responsibility of users and their Internet Service Providers in maintaining the integrity of the network.  While some are aware of steps to take to keep their own network secure, we often don’t consider the impact on our actions have on the entire network.  Behind the scenes, ISP’s are managing the network to help keep its users safe from malicious hackers, viruses, and other harms.

Radio hosts Dave Ballard & Bill Wardell were also interested in the latest policy initiatives that impact online users.  We discussed the current and upcoming federal policy actions including the National Broadband Plan, recent Comcast court decision, and Congressional interest in the future of broadband.  It’s clear we are at a pivotal point in the evolution of new technologies and all policymakers need to tread carefully to ensure the best possible policies for consumers and the industry they rely on to provide their services.  Congress will clearly need to play a role in these difficult decisions.

Click here to listen to my radio interview.

For more information about CHW radio, check out their site: http://thehood.thecyberhoodwatch.com/