Markey and Dingell, Perfect Together!
It appears that Representatives Dingell and Markey are tag teaming Chairman Martin of the FCC quite effectively these days. When Martin appeared at a House Hearing Wednesday, it was clear from the outset that Net Neutrality was the order of business.
When Martin argued that the Telecomms might not have incentives to build out the network if Net Neutrality was mandated, he was shown the upward track of AT&T stock prices since the BellSouth Merger was made WITH Net Neutrality as a condition. When Martin tried to justify that broadband buildout was what he was concerned about, he was presented with statistics that showed the flaws in FCC documentation of US broadband deployment and how other countries ahead of us in deployment were more heavily regulated, and the regulations enforced stringently. Markey also pointed Martin at articles in Foreign Affairs and Information Week that show that deregulation has had exactly the opposite effect and has stifled broadband buildout and made the US a broadband backwater, behind much smaller countries such as Korea, Japan, and even Estonia.
I hope that Markey and Dingell continue to keep Kevin Martin’s cojones in the fire. Martin has a lot to answer for.
Wednesday’s hearing was the first time in three years that commissioners had appeared before the subcommittee — a lapse that Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) said has had “unwelcome consequences.”“We intend to have them here as frequent guests,” added Markey.
I’m looking forward to that.
Especially given the agenda for the upcoming FCC meeting. According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, “Also included on the agenda is a policy that will categorize wirelesses Internet services as an “information service.” The classification puts a light regulatory touch on the service, allowing it to avoid having to comply with regulations requiring companies to open up their networks to competing providers.” Hmm, isn’t that in direct opposition to what Markey and Dingell have been saying they want? Martin keeps saying he wants to make broadband and TV more competitive, but Martin’s actions are having exactly the opposite effect. I betcha that Martin’s next meeting with Markey and Dingell will be even more stormy.
Technorati Tags: FCC Chairman Martin, Net Neutrality, Telecomm Regulation, AT&T, FCC Agenda, Broadband deployment
03/18/07, 9:27 PM |
Well, BLESS THEIR HEARTS AND POCKETBOOKS.
Better them than the great unwashed bozos of the “kill the ‘net” initiatives….
When this sort of thing comes up any more, I’m always reminded of the book, “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Chilling. I’m not sure why I have this congruence in my mind, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want it to get any worse….
03/19/07, 10:15 AM |
Wow. Ya know a Dem has really done right when he’s earned your praise!
Or didn’t you know that Markey and Dingell are both Dems?
03/19/07, 11:42 AM |
No, I didn’t know. I don’t generally pay a lot of attention to party lines. In fact, I’m not really a republican as I keep pointing out - I changed my registration five years or so ago to independent.
Some of my attitudes are “more republican” and “less democrat” - but I never voted partyline at any time in my voting life; I have always voted for a person after having done my research on her or his views and previous votes, debates, etc.