Multichannel News

The Benton Foundation marked the Feb 27 OneMoreVote network neutrality activist day by filing suit against the Federal Communications Commission's Dec. 14 decision to roll back network neutrality rules. "The Restoring Internet Freedom order will allow giant telecommunications companies to create 'fast lanes' and other discriminatory practices that will stifle innovation and diminish the Internet as a platform for free expression," said Benton Executive Director Adrianne Furniss.

At a panel session at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai talked up the "entrepreneurial spirit of markets" over the "all-knowing vortex of government." Chairman Pai said it was that spirit that would get broadband to rural areas and entrepreneurs from the drawing table to the board, as well as promote advancements in healthcare and education.  He said his FCC recognizes the power of citizens rather than that of a few unelected bureaucrats.

Establishing an integrated first-responder communications system is all about the details, not just the big picture overview and goals.  That reality became obvious as Michael Poth, CEO of The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), explained the agency's objectives to a Media Institute monthly luncheon in Washington on Feb 15. Poth cited "improved situational awareness" as a keystone of the FirstNet project, but also acknowledged that the near-term requirement is "getting technology to first responders using the technology that now exists."

[Commentary] Democrats insist the sky will fall without binding network neutrality rules, which will shortly cease to be in effect after the Republican Federal Communications Commission voted to disclaim the underlying legal power claimed by the Democratic FCC in 2015. But instead of pushing substantive legislation to codify net neutrality (something no Democrat has done since 2011 but Republicans have done twice), Democrats are rallying around the Congressional Review Act — the same tool they denounced in 2017 when Republicans used it to block the FCC’s broadband privacy rules.

New Street Research managing partner Jonathan Chaplin said the cable business is going to look vastly different in the next five years. “Today the wireless and cable industries have completely separate networks. In five years, those networks will be as one.