In today’s Daily Caller, I discuss the need for Congressional, rather than FCC, action on broadband reclassification in order to provide optimal benefits for consumers. Here is an excerpt: Broadband Internet access is critical to improving virtually every aspect of a consumer’s... Read The Story...

On Friday, Representatives Gene Green (D-TX) and Fred Upton (R-MI) introduced H. CON. RES. 311. Introduced with bipartisan support, this concurrent resolution is meant to express the responsibility of Congress to the determine authority of the FCC over broadband Internet services. In a first step to resolve the Congressional-FCC debate over Title II, this resolution specifically makes two main points:

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.

Today I hosted a roundtable discussion with consumer and non-profit groups, the topic of which was policies that impact broadband and consumers with guest speaker Paul Glenchur, Senior Telecommunications-Cable Analyst with the Potomac Research Group.

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.

On Tuesday, I attended a US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on Consumer Online Privacy. It’s clear that the most important element of helping consumers is education and awareness about online privacy.

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.

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Consumer Resources

Below are additional resources to more information about online privacy.

Consumer Guide to Online Privacy (PDF)
Consumer Online Privacy Survey
2008 Online Safety Survey
bNetS@vvy
www.onguardonline.gov
www.ikeepsafe.org/
www.getnetwise.org
www.fosi.org
www.enough.org

Other Organizations

National Caucus and Center on Black Aged:
http://www.ncba-aged.org/

National Consumers League:
http://www.nclnet.org/