FCC Chairman Wheeler cited increased network investment, while Verizon laid out its own open Internet principals ahead of appeals court decision
Just over nine months since going into effect, the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order remains a hot topic item for the telecom space under the shadow of an expected appeals court ruling on the FCC’s authority on the topic in the coming months.
Speaking at this week’s GnoviCon 2016 event held at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler touted progress in terms of maintaining open and unimpeded access to the Web, as well as countered those that questioned the investment impact the Open Internet Order was predicted to have on the market.
“As many of you recall, when the commission adopted these rules, critics howled that the rules would be devastating for network investment – that broadband deployment would screech to a halt,” Wheeler stated. “Well, as the virtuous circle predicts, investment continues pouring into startups whose ability to reach users requires unfettered Internet access. In 2015, venture investment in Internet-specific businesses was up 35% over the previous year. Score one for innovation investment!”
Wheeler also touched on comments made by telecom operators that an Open Internet Order would curtail investments into Internet infrastructure. Wheeler cited recent comments from AT&T that it planned to increase capital expenditures by $2 billion this year, Comcast telling investors it planned to roll out gigabit Internet services and Verizon Communications comments that it “remain[s] committed to consistently investing in our networks for the future.”
“Understand the economics driving that investment,” Wheeler said. “Each of these companies saw gains in revenue per broadband subscriber in 2015. Let’s stop and consider that often overlooked statistic. An open Internet is driving more network usage and – surprise – that increased usage is driving more revenue per user. More openness, more demand, more broadband. It’s just that simple.”
Wheeler focused his concern on any potential impact the court decision might have on the current Open Internet Order iteration.
“The real choice at the heart of the net neutrality debate is whether those who build the networks should make the rules by themselves or whether there should be a basic set of rules and a referee on the field to throw the flag if they are violated,” Wheeler said. “To me, the choice remains clear.”
Verizon touts its own plan
Verizon, which was a vocal opponent to the FCC’s open Internet plans, altered its approach to the debate by laying out what it want’s to see in terms of a long-standing policy framework. Writing on the company’s regulatory blog, Craig Silliman, general counsel and EVP for public policy at the telecom giant, stated four points he said Verizon stands for in terms of its open Internet commitment.
Those points include rules prohibiting the blocking by Internet service provides of lawful content, applications and services; preventing ISPs from intentionally throttling Internet traffic based on the traffic’s source, destination or content; prevent the charging of content providers to deliver Internet traffic at speeds different from unpaid traffic; and a general conduct standard preventing “unreasonable conduct” by ISPs that harm consumers or competition.
“We can support these rules because we believe they are fair, even-handed, good for consumers and essential for us and others to thrive going forward,” Silliman wrote, though also noting Congress could become an important player in how this issues works out long term. “We can’t predict how the court will rule. But if history is any guide, we can expect more conflict and more uncertainty over the scope of the FCC’s authority and whether the current statute provides the tools the FCC needs to adopt these rules. The only way to avoid this depressing redux is for Congress to act.”
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter
