Chairman Genachowski's Response to Rep Markey About Zoom Technologies Compliant

On January 7, 2011, Rep Ed Markey (D-MA) asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about the FCC's implementation of Section 629 of the Communications Act, a provision that Rep Markey authored as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The aim of Sec 629 is to replicate the unqualified successes of the so-called "Carterfone" policies by requiring the unbundling of equipment from multichannel video programming distributors, such as cable systems. Congress tasked the FCC with adopting rules to implement this policy to promote much-needed investment, innovation, and consumer choice in equipment utilized in conjunction with services offered over cable systems. Specifically, the law requires the FCC to assure consumers of the retail availability of cable modems (and other equipment) from vendors not affiliated with any multichannel video programming distributor. Zoom Technologies filed a Sec 629 complaint against Comcast and Rep Markey asked the FCC to investigate the matter.

In February, Chairman Genachowski wrote back to Rep Markey, ensuring him that the matter was under review.