June 13, 2016 (2016 Internet Policy Platform)

INTERNET/BROADBAND

2016 INTERNET POLICY PLATFORM
[SOURCE: Free Press, AUTHOR:]
There is growing consensus among internet users, digital rights advocates and activists on the principles that must guide any policymaking that affects the Internet:
Free Speech: Freedom of expression online and offline. Don’t censor the internet.
Access: Universal access to fast and affordable communications platforms.
Choice: Diverse, decentralized and open infrastructure with a competitive choice of providers.
Privacy: Protect personal data and the right to communicate and access information in private.
Transparency: Shed light on the data collection and processing practices of government and online platforms.
Openness: Support Net Neutrality to prevent unreasonable discrimination against content or users; protect everyone’s right to create, innovate, and share without permission.
This Internet policy platform aims to promote these principles and foster a healthier and more inclusive democracy.
benton.org/headlines/2016-internet-policy-platform | Free Press
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HOW MUCH DO ISPS HATE COMPETITION? THEY'LL SUE THE FCC TO PREVENT IT
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Jon Brodkin]
Two lobby groups representing small and medium-sized Internet service providers have taken the first step toward suing the Federal Communications Commission over a ruling designed to boost competition. The groups are trying to overturn a condition imposed on Charter's purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. In exchange for approval to buy the cable companies, Charter agreed to compete against other Internet service providers by building new networks in cities and towns already served by high-speed Internet providers. The American Cable Association (ACA), which represents smaller cable companies in mostly rural and suburban areas, and NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, which represents small telecommunication companies, each filed petitions to overturn the condition with the FCC recently. This is basically a formality to demonstrate to a court that the groups have exhausted all available options before suing. Assuming the FCC rejects the petitions, the groups will likely file a lawsuit. The "overbuilding" condition "will have devastating effects on the smaller broadband providers Charter will overbuild," the ACA said in a press release. The ACA's petition to the FCC claims that the condition is unlawful because, "It is not tailored to mitigate a merger-specific harm or confirm a merger-specific benefit."
benton.org/headlines/how-much-do-isps-hate-competition-theyll-sue-fcc-prevent-it | Ars Technica
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SECURITY/PRIVACY

WHEELER TO FLAKE AND BOOZMAN RE: BROADBAND PRIVACY PROCEEDING
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler]
On May 19, Senate Technology Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler to extend the comment period for the FCC's proposed broadband privacy rules. On May 26, Chairman Wheeler responded by noting that FCC record does not close when the comment deadlines hit. He wrote, "So while I appreciate your concerns, I do not believe a comment extension deadline is warranted at this time."
benton.org/headlines/chairman-wheelers-response-sens-flake-and-boozman-re-broadband-privacy-proceeding | Federal Communications Commission
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LABOR

GOOGLE BACKS PRESIDENT OBAMA ON TPP
[SOURCE: Revere Digital, AUTHOR: Mark Bergen]
Google has just lent its support to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an Obama Administration policy priority facing significant hurdles in this fraught election year. The trade agreement includes key provisions about the global passage of digital data, intellectual property and copyright — measures that have drawn criticism from both the political right and left, including several outspoken tech groups. Google’s endorsement isn’t exactly full-throated, but its stake clearly demonstrates another key area of support with the Obama Administration, to which Google is close. Kent Walker, Google’s SVP and general counsel, wrote, "The TPP is not perfect, and the trade negotiation process could certainly benefit from greater transparency. We will continue to advocate for process reforms, including the opportunity for all stakeholders to have a meaningful opportunity for input into trade negotiations." Google already backed the TPP earlier by proxy — the Internet Association, a tech group that includes the search giant, endorsed the trade agreement in March. Other tech titans, like Apple and Microsoft, have lent their support as well. Signed in February, the TPP awaits congressional approval. However, it has hit political roadblocks from all sides. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has called for its abolition. On the left, opponents — including a number of tech startups — describe the TPP as a threat to IP laws and emblematic of opaque policymaking.
benton.org/headlines/google-backs-president-obama-trade-deal-some-tech-advocates-hate | Revere Digital | Google
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TELECOM

RIGHTS OF WAY
[SOURCE: Telecommunications Policy, AUTHOR: Benjamin Cramer]
[Commentary] Telecommunications providers use rights-of-way to build physical network infrastructure on lands they do not own. Agreements to use these lands are usually made with public landowners such as local governments. Traditional rules for these negotiations are based on public utilities law and the common law of land ownership. Specific rules for telecommunications providers are also based on common carriage and Carrier or Last Resort regulations. Furthermore, the exercise of property rights by local landowners are often mischaracterized by telecommunications companies as burdensome regulation, with policy and jurisprudence following suit. This paper argues that in an era of technological convergence and the erosion of traditional pubic interest responsibilities, there are now fewer justifications for the unfettered usage of publicly-controlled lands by telecommunications firms.
[Benjamin W. Cramer is associated with the College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University.]
benton.org/headlines/right-way-wrong-way-fading-legal-justifications-telecommunications-infrastructure-rights | Telecommunications Policy
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VERIZON SEEKS RELIEF
[SOURCE: Fierce, AUTHOR: Sean Buckley]
Verizon is petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to get permission to shut down a series of legacy voice services offered via its MCI subsidiary due to lack of use and little customer demand. Similar to an earlier call to discontinue calling card services, Verizon notes in an FCC filing that the services "are all outdated legacy services that have largely fallen out of use." Specifically, the service provider wants to shut down four services: Person-to-Person, Third Number Billing, Collect Call, and Inmate Collect operator services.
benton.org/headlines/verizon-seeks-clearance-discontinue-collect-calling-other-legacy-voice-services | Fierce
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LOBBYING

CABLE INDUSTRY LOBBYING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Cecilia Kang]
In recent weeks, staff members for Rep Bobby Rush (D-IL) have asked fellow lawmakers to sign a letter opposing a Federal Communications Commission proposal to limit how broadband providers can share users’ personal data. Last month, 60 lawmakers signed a separate letter voicing their objections to an FCC regulation that would open the market for cable television set-top boxes. What the actions have in common: the financial connections and legwork of cable companies like Comcast. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, an industry lobbying group, said it had edited the letter shared by Rush’s staff. Cable industry lobbyists also helped gather the 60 signatures on the set-top-box letter; nearly all of the lawmakers who signed count cable and telecom companies as top campaign donors, according to federal disclosures. The behind-the-scenes activity by cable companies and their industry groups is part of the biggest lobbying push by the $115 billion industry in Washington since 2009, when the government drew up its net neutrality rules. These days, the cable and telecom industries are hiring more lobbyists, issuing warnings that they may sue federal agencies, and making speeches and writing scathing blog posts about policymakers. The trigger? A string of proposed regulations by the FCC that has left cable companies feeling besieged.
benton.org/headlines/cable-industry-mobilizes-lobbying-army-block-fcc-moves | New York Times
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POLICYMAKERS

CLINTON’S TECH CIRCLE
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation, AUTHOR: Robbie McBeath]
On June 6, the Associated Press declared that Hillary Clinton would be the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee. She is now the first women to lead a major political party in the U.S. With the 2016 field now essentially down to Clinton and Donald Trump, both major parties are drafting their platforms for the November election. Which tech policy issues will get attention as we move to the general election? Who are the key players? Nearly 20 technology and civil rights organizations on June 6 sent a letter to the heads of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in an effort to encourage the parties to adopt platforms that defend Internet privacy, affordability, and openness. They say the parties should treat Internet access as "essential, not a luxury,” adding “Understanding where both political parties stand on issues such as protecting privacy online, or ensuring greater broadband access, deployment, and adoption in urban, rural, and tribal areas alike, will be crucial to helping voters make an informed choice on Election Day.” This week, RNC members met with a number of technology trade groups in closed-door meetings to talk about issues like network neutrality and surveillance. The DNC heard testimony from stakeholders on June 8 and 9 about the party’s platform, which will be taken up during its national convention in July.
https://www.benton.org/blog/clinton-wins-nomination-her-tech-circle-gets...
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FCC CHAIRMAN WHEELER APPOINTS NEW CHIEF ECONOMIST
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced the appointment of Katja Seim as chief economist for the Federal Communications Commission, effective July 1, 2016. Dr. Seim currently serves as an associate professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School in Philadelphia (PA). The FCC chief economist advises the Chairman on economic issues and is part of the agency’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. Dr. Seim received her doctorate in economics from Yale University and her undergraduate degree in economics and mathematics from Franklin & Marshall College. At Wharton, Dr. Seim teaches managerial economics in the MBA program and an undergraduate elective in public policy design and regulation. Before joining Wharton, she was on the faculty at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Dr. Seim will take on the chief economist role from Dr. Jonathan Levy who has filled the role over recent months and will now return to his deputy chief economist position in the agency.
benton.org/headlines/fcc-chairman-wheeler-appoints-new-chief-economist | Federal Communications Commission | The Hill
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STORIES FROM ABROAD

CHINA’S CONTENT CRACKDOWN
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Lilian Lin]
Chinese regulators’ crackdown on foreign content has laid bare the challenges Western media companies face in getting their programs viewed in China—and what strategies have worked. Rules barring foreign media companies from licenses to operate video-streaming services in China, and from showing content online or via cable as stand-alone brands, have been in place for several years. Recently they have been more strictly enforced. With the increasing popularity of online video platforms in China, the administration in recent years has been tightening controls over foreign media content online, for which regulations used to be less strict than for traditional media outlets.
benton.org/headlines/chinas-content-crackdown-forces-western-media-concessions | Wall Street Journal
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June 13, 2016 (2016 Internet Policy Platform)