Federal Communication Commission Chairman Kevin Martin’s well-received announcement here that he will push for dismissal of Skype Ltd.’s open-access petition has now prompted a reaction from an influential House lawmaker.
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), vice chairman of the House telecom subcommittee, joined public-interest groups and Democratic FCC member Michael Copps in voicing disappointment that Martin is seeking votes to reject Skype’s request to force all wireless carriers to open their networks to third-party devices and applications. Martin on Tuesday told convention attendees he is circulating an order to deny the global Internet communications firm’s petition. Skype wants the FCC to apply to the wireless industry a 1968 ruling allowing non-telephone company devices to connect to the public landline network.
“I find it very promising that the big wireless carriers have pledged to open up their networks to outside devices and applications, and I congratulate them on this savvy move. That’s definitely the best approach for consumers and innovative companies,” said Doyle.
He added, however, “While I’m glad to see that the industry is making this important action on its own, I would have preferred that the FCC continued to monitor this situation and think that Chairman Martin’s action was premature. I’ll continue to watch to make sure that consumers have access to the same open Internet, using the devices of their choosing and running the applications of their choice regardless of how they connect to it.”
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, who addressed a convention audience Wednesday, declined to say whether she supported Martin because she has yet to see the chairman’s proposed order tossing out the Skype petition.
However, during her remarks, she joking made what appeared to be a passing reference to Martin’s speech in which he staked out his position on the Skype filing.
“I can’t wait to get to get back and see what the chairman has left for all of us, and I hope that his comments weren’t April Fools either,” said Tate. Virgin Group kingpin Richard Branson did an April Fools’ number on CTIA convention attendees during his keynote address earlier this week.
