The FCC: Cop on the beat to the FTC’s firehose

[Commentary] On March 25, Congress will once again take aim at the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to do its job as the expert agency in the communications sector. At issue this time is whether another agency with three initials -- the Federal Trade Commission -- should take over authority from the FCC. Behind the debate is the question of whether antitrust law is sufficient on its own to prevent big Internet providers from taking advantage of consumers. We think the answer is “no.” It is not an exaggeration to say that the ongoing success of modern communications has rested on this dual FCC/antitrust agency oversight of the industry.

Antitrust is no doubt important to ensure healthy marketplaces in many sectors of our economy. But the FCC is specifically charged with the central goals of communications policy: achieving universal service, protecting consumers, promoting competition and innovation, ensuring a communications platform that supports a diversity of viewpoints. Only combined market oversight will ensure digital communications platforms capable of promoting social and economic justice necessary to support a robust democracy.

[Gene Kimmelman is CEO of Public Knowledge. Allen Grunes is an antitrust attorney]