Free Press: Clyburn Is Right -- Competition Is Key to Broadband Adoption, Lower Prices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 10, 2010
Contact: Liz Rose, Communications Director, Free Press, 202-265-1490 x 32 or lrose@freepress.net
WASHINGTON -- Today, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn issued a statement urging the Federal Communications Commission to examine competition in the broadband market.
Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott made the following statement:
"We applaud Commissioner Clyburn for tackling the issue of competition in the broadband market head-on. For too long, the FCC has avoided confronting the competition problem, leaving American consumers and business at the mercy of the phone and cable companies. The practical consequences of the lack of meaningful competition in our broadband market is less investment and innovation, lower adoption, and millions of dollars in lost consumer surplus. Our competition failures are why America continues to lag our global counterparts in every measure of broadband success, and they are what drove Congress to ask the FCC for a National Broadband Plan.
"Congress wants a plan for universal, affordable and robust broadband, and a meaningful competition policy is the key to achieving those goals. With the National Broadband Plan due to roll out in a week, competition policy that addresses soaring broadband rates and spurs adoption must be the top priority. Our goals cannot be met with hope that wireless broadband might someday discipline prices, nor will they be met by self-serving programs like the cable industry's proposed 'A-plus' adoption initiative. We hope that the FCC follows Commissioner Clyburn's lead and confronts these issues directly. American consumers need the market to work for them, not against them."
Read Commissioner Clyburn's statement here:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296790A1.pdf
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.
