June 19th, 2007
FCC Chair outlines view of broadband availability, rights
FCC Chair Kevin Martin is addressing NXTComm now via a satellite hookup.
Priorities he’s mentioned include:
- Making sure that Uni versal Service fee assessment policies are updated so that people live in rural areas can be connected to broadband. He backed reverse auctions as a way to fast-track this goal.
- Making sure that the FCC is doing all it can to facilitate video competition.
- On Net Neutrality: Martin stressed it is important that rules are in place which facilitate innovation both in the network and edges of the network. Martin said that it is important for infrastructure players to be able to recoup some of costs of this investment.
- Martin added, however, that it is important that net neutrality regulations in place ensures customers can access all the broadband out there today, and be able to attach any devices without harming the network.
Russell Shaw is an enterprise computing journalist, analyst and author based in Portland, Oregon. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
