Net Neutrality 8-23-2006

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FTC Chairman Addresses Issue of “Net Neutrality”

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today told a meeting of the Progress & Freedom Foundation that she has formed an Internet Access Task Force to examine issues being raised by converging technologies and regulatory developments, and to educate and inform the enforcement, advocacy and education initiatives of the Commission. “I also have asked the Internet Access Task Force to address what is likely the most hotly debated issue in communications, so-called ‘network neutrality,’” she said.

“The FTC’s Internet Access Task Force is looking carefully at the issues raised by calls for network neutrality laws. . . . I urge caution in proceeding on the issue. I . . . question the starting assumption that government regulation, rather than the market itself under existing laws, will provide the best solution to a problem,” Majoras said.

Majoras said there are points that should be considered before enactment of legislation to regulate the Internet, since regulation will have impact “for years to come.”

[. . . ]

“While I am sounding cautionary notes about new legislation, let me make clear that if broadband providers engage in anticompetitive conduct, we will not hesitate to act using our existing authority. But I have to say, thus far, proponents of net neutrality regulation have not come to us to explain where the market is failing or what anticompetitive conduct we should challenge; we are open to hearing from them,” she said.

Majoras also said the FTC will host a conference with “an array of experts from around the world to inform us about what they see as emerging trends, applications, products, services, and issues over the next ten years.” A preliminary agenda for the hearings, named “Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-Ade,”is being released today. Copies of the agenda can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/techade/tech-ade_agenda_preliminary.pdf

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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