Public Knowledge, Free Press Underwhelmed By FCC Broadband Policy Outline

Public Knowledge took aim at the Federal Communications Commission's broadband update Wednesday, suggesting the commission's briefing on the policy side of the FCC's plan had misplaced priorities and did not sufficiently address competition. Although Public Knowledge supports Universal Service Fund reform and municipal networks, the organization was looking for bold steps -- like opening telecommunication networks to competitors or separation of carriers into wholesale and retail components, not the "incremental steps" the FCC was proposing. FCC broadband plan team leader Blair Levin said that there are a lot of things in the plan designed to address competition. Getting more spectrum, he said, is all about having a more competitive broadband marketplace. The FCC is also looking to spur a market in "gateway" TV set-tops that would combine Internet and TV functions. That is on the device side, but Levin said, "[it] is certainly about competition." Another facet of the plan would be transparency in the kinds of broadband service and speeds being delivered to consumers. "How can you have a competitive market if people don't know the actual performance of the things they are getting and could be getting if they chose." The FCC is also contemplating ways to lower pole attachment fees, smooth rights of way, and otherwise make it easier to lay fiber. That, he said, is all about competition. The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology said it is pleased the FCC included accessibility in its report.