Statement of NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Regarding Today’s FCC Action to Regulate the Internet
“Today, the FCC took one of the most regulatory steps in its history. It began regulating the Internet, abruptly abandoning a bipartisan national commitment to limited government involvement that has reigned for decades. “This extraordinary action has been justified by the desire to preserve net neutrality, but the FCC Order goes well beyond that reasonable objective. The FCC has taken the overwhelming support for an open Internet and pried open the door to heavy-handed government regulation in a space celebrated for its free enterprise. The Commission has breathed new life into the decayed
INTX Brings Hackathon to Chicago
INTXHACK Partners Comcast/NBCUniversal, Gracenote, Tribune Media and 1871 Challenge Technology Developers to Rethink Digital Entertainment WASHINGTON, DC – The Internet & Television Expo (INTX) is teaming with Comcast/NBCUniversal, Gracenote/Tribune Media and 1871 to challenge technologists and developers from Chicago and beyond to rethink the future of digital entertainment at the first ever INTXHACK. This 24-hour developer challenge takes place May 2–3, 2015, in conjunction with INTX in Chicago. Participating hackers will compete live at 1871, Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub for digital start
Statement of NCTA Regarding Introduction of the FCC Process Act
"We commend Sen. Heller for introducing the FCC Process Reform Act, legislation that primarily seeks additional transparency in the FCC rulemaking process. As the FCC considers critical technology and communications issues, it is important to have greater predictability and openness in FCC decision making, and to ensure businesses can make crucial decisions with consistent federal oversight. We hope the Senate will consider and approve this legislation."
Statement of NCTA Regarding Introduction of the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act
“We applaud Chairman Thune, Sen. Wyden and the 38 additional co-sponsors for introducing the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act. This important legislation will make the Internet tax moratorium permanent, and helps protect consumers and small businesses from onerous state and local taxes on Internet access. By enacting a permanent ban on Internet access taxes, we can promote the continued growth of the Internet and encourage more Americans to connect to this critical technology. We urge Congress to act swiftly on the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act."
Statement of NCTA Regarding Introduction of the Wi-Fi Innovation Act
"We congratulate Senators Rubio and Booker on the introduction of Wi-Fi Innovation Act which would secure more unlicensed spectrum in the 5 Ghz band. With more and more Wi-Fi-enabled devices coming to market everyday, consumers will continue to need additional spectrum to use these tools. This bipartisan legislation provides a clear path forward for properly allocating a finite and increasingly necessary public resource and continues to establish the U.S. as a global leader in public Wi-Fi availability, speed, and scale."
Statement of NCTA Regarding Introduction of the Innovation Act
"We commend Chairman Goodlatte on the introduction of patent legislation, the Innovation Act. It is essential that we deter patent trolls and halt unjustified patent litigation so that American companies can continue to innovate, generate new jobs and expand the economy. We look forward to working with Chairman Goodlatte and the bipartisan cosponsors towards passage of this important legislation.”
Statement of NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Regarding FCC Chairman Wheeler’s Title II Proposal
“Chairman Wheeler’s proposal to impose the heavy burden of Title II public utility regulation on the Internet goes far beyond the worthy goal of establishing important net neutrality protections. It will result in a backward-looking new regulatory regime, ill-suited for the dynamic Internet, with far reaching and troubling consequences. We believe that such a significant expansion of the FCC’s authority is unnecessary and will only deliver further uncertainty instead of legally enforceable rules that everyone supports. Despite the repeated assurances from the President and Chairman Wheeler, we
Statement of NCTA Regarding the FCC’s New Broadband Definition for its Section 706 Report
“The cable industry has consistently delivered faster Internet speeds to American consumers with networks that offer 50 Mbps to 85 percent of U.S. homes, widely available tiers that exceed 100 Mbps and Gigabit speeds in some communities. While cable network Internet speeds already meet and exceed the FCC’s new broadband description, we are troubled that the Commission majority has arbitrarily chosen a definition of broadband in its Section 706 report that ignores how millions of consumers currently access the Internet. Instead of an accurate assessment of America’s broadband marketplace and
Michael Powell Testimony on PROTECTING THE INTERNET AND CONSUMERS THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL ACTION before the Committee on Energy & Commerce on January 21, 2015
Use the link below to download the full testimony of Michael K. Powell on Protecting the Internet and Consumers Through CongressionalAction before the Committee on Energy & Commerce on January 21, 2015.
Statement of NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Regarding the President’s Speech on Broadband
“The cable industry has invested over $230 billion to build robust broadband networks that reach 93 percent of U.S. homes. We agree with the President that connecting all Americans to this critical technology should be a national priority, and that is why we have long supported the use of scarce government funding to support universal service in areas where private networks are not economically viable. “America’s decades-long policy of promoting private investment and exercising a light regulatory touch has yielded substantial benefits for American consumers. As evidence, cable’s top broadband