Rick Boucher

GAO: FCC Should Do More for Wireless Competition

Stevie Converse — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:28:22 -0400

Full article: Free Press
The Government Accountability Office has released a new report on the wireless industry. The GAO report acknowledges the views of many stakeholders that spectrum policies, special access prices, early termination fees and exclusive handset arrangements have created significant advantages for the largest national wireless companies and have limited consumer choice and competition.

Boucher, Stearns Introduce Voluntary Spectrum Auction Bill

Stevie Converse — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:09:24 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
Reps. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) introduced a bill that would make sure that if the government reclaims broadcasters' spectrum for auction and re-use for wireless broadband, it can only do so from broadcasters who give it up voluntarily.

Common Cause, Parents' Group Join to Oppose Comcast-NBC Merger

Stevie Converse — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:53:17 -0400

Full article: Bloomberg Businessweek
Todd Shields
Common Cause and the Parents Television Council are among 21 organizations that formed a coalition to oppose Comcast's takeover of General Electric's NBC Universal as proposed. The Coalition for Competition in the Media includes consumer advocacy groups, telecommunications workers, independent programmers and minority-media interests.

Coalition Warns Against Comcast-NBC Deal

Stevie Converse — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:48:56 -0400

Full article: National Journal
As House lawmakers were set to meet today in Chicago for a field hearing on the proposed Comcast-NBC merger, 20 public-interest, industry and consumer groups announced a coalition to oppose the business deal, citing its potential harm on competition and consumer choice.

Coalition Launched to Oppose NBC-Comcast Merger

Stevie Converse — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:43:21 -0400

Full article: National Journal
Juliana Gruenwald
On the same day that lawmakers were set to meet in Chicago for a field hearing on the issue, 20 public interest, industry and consumer groups announced a coalition to oppose the proposed merger between Comcast and NBC Universal, citing its potential harm on competition and consumer choice.

Coalition of the Unwilling: Comcast-NBCU Critics Unite

Stevie Converse — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:37:10 -0400

Full article: Multichannel News
John Eggerton
Critics of the Comcast-NBC merger have joined to form a new group, the Coalition for Competition in Media, which they announced with, among other things, full-page ads in the <em>Chicago Tribune</em> and <em>Chicago Sun-Times</em> in advance of the House Communications Subcommittee field hearing there on the deal.

Media Coalition: Comcast Merger to Create Power 'Unknown' in U.S. History

Stevie Converse — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:23:39 -0400

Full article: The Hill
Sara Jerome
A new group opposed to the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal says regulators need to consider whether the size of the proposed deal represents a threat to the public interest. "The merged entity will exert a degree of power unknown in our nation’s media history," says the Coalition for Competition in Media.

Capitol Hill Telecom Talks Make Little Progress on Fine Print

Stevie Converse — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:54:08 -0400

Full article: The Hill
Sara Jerome
Progress was not made on the the fine print of potential broadband legislation by a large group of stakeholders, according to Media Access Project's Andrew Schwartzman, who attended the staff-led meeting convened by the chairmen of the commerce committees.

With Boucher Talks, Four Simultaneous Efforts Take on Net Neutrality

Stevie Converse — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:56:09 -0400

Full article: The Hill
Sara Jerome
Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) acknowledged reports that he is holding private talks between Internet and telecommunications companies about the possibility of passing narrow Net Neutrality legislation this year.

Boucher Seeking Written Comments on Privacy Bill

Stevie Converse — Mon, 10 May 2010 09:28:43 -0400

Full article: National Journal
Juliana Gruenwald
House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va.) is giving interested parties until June 4 to provide him with written comments on his draft privacy bill. The bill would require websites to inform users how they collect and use personally identifiable information.