Leibowitz Gives Strong Support to FCC's Network Neutrality Proposals

The Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality proposals got strong support from Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, who said that transparency and the open Internet are "critical" to consumer-friendly broadband service.

His remarks came at an FCC workshop Tuesday (Jan. 19) focusing on the FCC's proposal to add a new transparency principle to the Internet Openness policy statement the commission's democratic majority argue needs to be expanded and codified. Chairman Leibowitz said that effort to expand and codify the principles was necessary because, without it, "those principles are not certainties in the Internet of tomorrow." He also said the FTC would be teaming up with the FCC to insure openness. "I welcome the FCC's involvement in this area. If this principle of transparency and disclosure is promulgated, I look forward to a close working relationship between our agencies that leverages the expertise of both on behalf of consumers."