WASHINGTON, December 15, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission’s Thursday vote to repeal the “open internet” rules classifying broadband services as common carriers represents the most significant regulatory shift in the internet in more than a decade. Critics in Congress, at the agency, and even on late-night TV wasted no time in blasting it. These… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, November 23, 2017 – Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday praised plans by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to roll back the network neutrality rules put in place by his predecessor, but pledged to work towards some sort of legislation that would outlaw blocking and throttling internet content currently… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2017 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai came to his re-confirmation hearing Wednesday with a message that network neutrality regulations were hurting infrastructure investments. The hearing joined Pai, current FCC chairman, with Jessica Rosenworcel, who had been an FCC commissioner until her term lapsed at the end of last year, and… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 23, 2017 — In a statement released on the web site of the Federal Communications Communications, and emailed to reporters at 4:48 p.m. ET, Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai, a Republican announced his selection as Chairman of the agency, a nominally independent agency whose chairman is designated by President Donald Trump. Pai said:… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2014 - In the midst of Netflix's quarrels with Verizon Communications, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement Friday that the commission will investigate slowdowns in traffic to ascertain whether there's harm to consumers. “To be clear, what we are doing right now is collecting information, not regulating. We… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 - The Federal Communication Commission's effort to thread the needle on net neutrality with regulations that will withstand legal scrutiny while also satisfying open internet activists led to starkly divided responses to the Thursday measure. In the camp expressing disappointment that agency Chairman Tom Wheeler didn't go further, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a member of the Commerce Science and Transportation Committee, said that innovation over the internet in America could unless broadband were to be reclassified as a common-carrier telecommunications service. "Internet access today is like traditional phone service decades ago - we can't live or work without it," Markey said. "We must stop broadband behemoths from setting up fast and slow lanes and picking winners and losers. Start-ups and small business would suffer, slowing our economy and job growth throughout Massachusetts and around the country." [...] Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 - Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn discussed her work at the agency and her plans for the future of the FCC with National Cable and Telecommunications CEO Michael Powell at the opening session of the second day of the NCTA’s annual Cable Show. Clyburn described the success of the… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2013 -- The role of broadband as a major driving force for innovation in the cable industry was a major focus of the opening session at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association’s annual Cable Show on Monday. Michael Powell, president and CEO of NCTA, delivered the keynote speech at the session. He… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013 - The following are reactions from President Barack Obama's Announcement that Tom Wheeler would be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from several of the leading major telecommunications, media and technology industry trade groups. Ed Black, President and CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry Association: “President Obama has nominated the right… Keep Reading
By Michael Powell, CEO of NCTA: As a former FCC Chairman who appreciates the incredible privilege and immense responsibility of overseeing the nation’s telecommunications sector, I want to thank and congratulate Chairman Genachowski for his outstanding leadership and remarkable accomplishments during his tenure. During a period of tremendous economic turmoil and marketplace uncertainty, Chairman Genachowski… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 - FCC Commissioner, Meredith Baker, announced Wednesday that she will resign her post on June 3, after which she will begin her tenure as a lobbyist for NBCUniversal. Baker's served as one of the five FCC commissioners for less than two years, after being sworn in by President Barack Obama in July, 2009. Previously, she spent five years during the second Bush administration at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, where she rose to the top spot in that agency. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2011 - The National Cable and Telecommunications Association named former Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Michael Powell, as its new president and CEO Tuesday. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2010 -- Blair Levin, who became the chief architect behind the Federal Communication's National Broadband Plan as director of the FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative will leave the agency following the first week in May, according to a commission press release. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2009 - Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell and former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., have been named honorary co-chairs of Broadband for America, a coalition of more than 110 member companies and organizations that are say they are working to increase broadband penetration across the nation. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 4, 2009 - A top government official focused on the need to improve the allocation of spectrum for future broadband expansion during a telecommunications conference on Thursday. “The United States needs a comprehensive approach that expands upon proven flexible, market-oriented policies that facilitate spectrum access, wireless innovation and competition,” said FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker during a keynote address (PDF) at the Phoenix Center’s Annual Telecom Symposium. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 18, 2009 – The United States desperately needs a national broadband strategy, agreed a wide range of telecommunications experts, speaking last week at a conference on “Changing Media” at the Newseum in Washington. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, February 18, 2009 - The day after the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners approved a resolution calling for reform of the Federal Communications commission, a panel of former agency staffers, commissioners and state regulators debate Wednesday over what areas truly needed reform and how to achieve it. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, February 5, 2009 - The three members of the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday expressed relief over Congress' Wednesday passage of legislation delaying the date of the digital television transition from February 17 to June 12. Keep Reading
October 22 - In an interview with BroadbandCensus.com, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Larry Landis reflected on the value of various efforts to obtain broadband data. He also made reference to his earlier work in the private sector, and the impact that high-technology tools can have on such efforts. Keep Reading
August 10 – Today’s technologically advanced Alaska is a far cry from Jack London’s frontier in The Call of the Wild. Yet while dog-sledding remains a common form of transportation, the image of the disconnected wilderness man is today more myth than reality. Keep Reading
Network Neutrality was the key sticking point in a Tuesday presidential debate, by proxy, between two former chairmen of the Federal Communications Commission chairmen: Reed Hundt and Michael Powell. Keep Reading
The Internet has opened up so many possibilities for communication that the most important concern about the media isn't broadcasters, but cable and Bell companies, said Free Press. Keep Reading