During keynote remarks to Cable Congress 2018 in Dublin, Ireland today, Michael Powell, President & CEO of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, encouraged policymakers to employ fresh thinking about today’s marketplace dynamics and offered some core principles that can guide a more future-focused and holistic regulatory framework.
Powell kicked off his remarks by commenting on the state of the net neutrality debate in the U.S., remarking that it is increasingly irrelevant in a world because it looks to the past: “Net neutrality policy does not remotely address the issues companies and consumers are facing today and likely will face in the future.”
He added that net neutrality is already deeply rooted throughout the entire internet and the consumer open internet experience will not change. Instead of continuing to debate battles of the past, Powell said policymakers should look at consumer protections that encapsulate the entire internet ecosystem: “U.S. policymakers and regulators around the world need to pivot and focus collectively on how to craft a contemporary regulatory framework that nurtures healthy internet growth and addresses the growing list of concerns that truly impact our citizens.”
Powell said issues like data privacy, technology addiction, fake news, cybersecurity and market power all impact consumers and must be part of the policy discussion. He offered five general principles that can guide a more holistic regulatory framework:
- Reaffirm the inter-dependent nature of the internet ecosystem
- Promote infrastructure growth
- Subject tech companies to greater scrutiny
- Reinvigorate antitrust and competition policy and apply it fairly
- Secure and protect the internet
Powell concluded: “The internet is amazing and far reaching. It will be the core foundation on which the future will unfold. It deserves a regulatory response that is equally enlightened and forward looking. The cable industry will play a critical role in the information and technology future. We stand ready to build the strong foundation that that future needs, but we need forward-looking policies that keep pace and are applied more fairly. If we get them, the future will be very bright.”
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