FCC Broadband Hearing in Pittsburgh

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

________________________________________
From: Dewayne Hendricks [dewayne () warpspeed com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 10:23 AM
To: David Farber
Subject: FCC Broadband Hearing in Pittsburgh

FCC BROADBAND HEARING IN PITTSBURGH

The Federal Communications Commission traveled to Carnegie Mellon
University in Pittsburgh Monday to discuss "Broadband and the Digital
Future." The FCC commissioners heard about privacy, fairness and
commercial possibility. Rep Mike Doyle (D-PA) helped organize the
event saying it was intended to address two major concerns -- the so-
called "digital divide" between those who have broadband access and
those who don't, and "Network Neutrality," or the openness of the
Internet. The United States government needs to expand its broadband
mapping efforts and collect information about Internet speed tiers,
Federal Communications Chairman Kevin Martin said. FCC Commissioner
Michael Copps said, "No matter who you are, or where you live, or how
much money you make ... you will need, and you are entitled to have
these tools (broadband Internet) available to you, I think, as a civil
right." Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein echoed Doyle's and Martin's
calls for regulations and seconded Martin's belief that America must
find a solutions that will help increase broadband deployment and
speed while also lowering the cost of broadband. Commissioner Deborah
Taylor Tate emphasized her efforts to crack down on online child
pornography. Internet service providers should be free to take
unilateral action against such sites, she said. Tate also cited the
need to respect intellectual property rights online. Commissioner
Robert McDowell, appearing to reject some of the more regulatory
policies of his colleagues, said that the Internet has flourished
because engineers have, and should continue, to be the solvers of
engineering problems, not governmental officials.

Links to source articles: 
<http://benton.org/node/15405?utm_campaign=Benton%27s+Headlines&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2008/07/22/nid-15407&;
>

Of particular note: "At FCC broadband hearing, speeches but no
consensus" <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9996339-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5
>

Courtesy of the Benton Foundation <http://www.benton.org>



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