Friday, April 28, 2017

Restoring Internet Freedom

From FCC Chair Pai:

Restoring Internet Freedom

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – WC Docket No. 17-108

Background: For almost twenty years, the Internet flourished under a light-touch regulatory approach.

[me] For almost 20 years there was actual competition. There hundreds of independent ISPs. That is why it flourished.

During this time, the Internet underwent rapid, and unprecedented, growth. Internet service providers
(ISPs) invested approximately $1.5 trillion in the Internet ecosystem...

[me] and then consolidation hit. The pie stagnated with stagnated wages for most Americans. We had that huge downturn in 2006-2008. Remember that? Oh, and Verizon spent $26B on FiOS - and didn't get the 50% return they expected. ILECs called for - and received in over 20 states - deregulation.

[me] You know where we are now? Cable is the incumbent voice provider to more than 60% of households. Yeah, the ILECs were fat and happy on rate of return and USF money and fighting with CLECs. They missed the cable threat.

[me] For Telco TV the telcos HAD to invest in their networks for the first time in ages! And the timing was awful.

[me] TV is OTT now. But it wouldn't be without a watchful FCC.

[FCC]The Internet became an ever-increasing part of the American economy, offering new and innovative changes in how we work, learn, receive medical care, and entertain ourselves.

[me] Again wouldn't have happened without competition and a vigilant FCC.

[FCC] The Commission’s 2015 decision to subject ISPs to Title II utility-style regulations risks that innovation, serving ultimately to threaten the open Internet it purported to preserve.

[me] Really, because that regulation didn't affect anything since it was enacted. NOTHING! And Title II didn't affect WAN or Voice development or innovation. You know what destroyed Innovation? Consolidation and Greed.

[me] Monopolists don't know how to innovate or compete except through litigation and buying regulation. Thanks for being a pawn! Bell Labs was a separate entity (like PARC was for XEROX) but that is where all the innovation happened. Nothing new since they sold it off to Lucent.

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