AT&T wants the Federal Communications Commission to dissolve federal and state rules requiring universal, reliable, affordable and open networks. This will jeopardize existing communications infrastructure that carries our conversations, family connections, ideas and commerce. AT&T promises this sweeping deregulation will bring substantial consumer benefits, but there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Free Press filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission concerning AT&T's request for the FCC to facilitate the transition to all-IP networks. If granted under the FCC's current broadband classification framework, AT&T’s request would result in the complete removal of all regulatory oversight of our nation's critical telecommunications infrastructure.
All Americans need access to affordable high-speed broadband. But several states have passed laws limiting or outright banning municipal broadband networks.
You can schedule face-to-face meetings with your elected officials to discuss the need to support a community's right to create its own broadband network.
The Federal Communications Commission has asked for comments on the impact of the recently proposed AWS spectrum sale/swap between Verizon and T-Mobile on its review of Verizon’s proposal to acquire AWS licenses from SpectrumCo, Cox and Leap Wireless. Free Press offers these brief comments in response. In short, this latest deal does not change the fact that if the applications in this proceeding are granted, Verizon will control far more spectrum than it will need for the foreseeable future in markets serving the overwhelming majority of the U.S. population.
Comcast recently announced major modifications to its so-called “excessive use” policies for Internet users. The company scrapped its 250 gigabyte (GB) per month usage cap, and said it will trial new 300 GB monthly allotments in two markets. The trials come with steep overage fees of $10 as soon you exceed this arbitrary cap. These changes follow the uproar over Comcast’s decision to exempt from the cap its own “Xfinity” streaming video on the Xbox while subjecting competitors’ streaming video services like YouTube and Netflix to the cap.
Free Press, Consumers Union, New America Foundation and Public Knowledge sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee urging it to consider the usage of punitive data caps by broadband providers in its online video hearing scheduled for Tuesday, April 24.
Written testimony of Free Press Policy Adviser Joel Kelsey before the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights on March 21, 2012, regarding “The Verizon/Cable Deals: Harmless Collaboration or a Threat to Competition and Consumers?”
Free Press filed a petition to deny Verizon the ability to acquire from SpectrumCo. and Cox Wireless the last nationwide block of highly valuable mobile broadband spectrum that will be available for the foreseeable future. SpectrumCo. is a Comcast majority-owned venture with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
