Consumers Poised for Victory Against Comcast at FCC
July 10, 2008
Press Release
WASHINGTON — According to the Associated Press, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to conclude its investigation on Friday into complaints from Free Press and others that Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, is blocking consumer access to Internet content.
Late last year, the Associated Press caught Comcast secretly blocking the Web sites and services of its competitors. In response, Free Press and members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition filed a complaint urging the FCC to stop Comcast’s harmful blocking and sought fines to deter future violations. Since the FCC launched its investigation in January, tens of thousands of people filed comments with the agency, and hundreds attended public hearings at Harvard and Stanford universities.
Marvin Ammori, general counsel of Free Press and author of the complaint, issued the following statement:
“Nine months ago, Comcast was exposed for blocking free choice on the Internet. At every turn, Comcast has denied blocking, lied to the public and tried to avoid being held accountable. We have presented an open and shut case that Comcast broke the law.
“The FCC now appears ready to take action on behalf of consumers. This is an historic test for whether the law will protect the open Internet. If the commission decisively rules against Comcast, it will be a remarkable victory for organized people over organized money.”
Petition for Declaratory Ruling:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/fp_et_al_nn_declaratory_ruling.pdf
Comcast Complaint:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/fp_pk_comcast_complaint.pdf
Comments:
http://www.freepress.net/files/fp_et_al_comcast_petition_fp_comments.pdf
Reply Comments:
http://www.freepress.net/files/freepress_comcast_petition_reply_comments.pdf
Free Press legal memoranda:
http://www.freepress.net/files/FP_et_al_Petition_Ex_Parte_Filing.pdf
Late last year, the Associated Press caught Comcast secretly blocking the Web sites and services of its competitors. In response, Free Press and members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition filed a complaint urging the FCC to stop Comcast’s harmful blocking and sought fines to deter future violations. Since the FCC launched its investigation in January, tens of thousands of people filed comments with the agency, and hundreds attended public hearings at Harvard and Stanford universities.
Marvin Ammori, general counsel of Free Press and author of the complaint, issued the following statement:
“Nine months ago, Comcast was exposed for blocking free choice on the Internet. At every turn, Comcast has denied blocking, lied to the public and tried to avoid being held accountable. We have presented an open and shut case that Comcast broke the law.
“The FCC now appears ready to take action on behalf of consumers. This is an historic test for whether the law will protect the open Internet. If the commission decisively rules against Comcast, it will be a remarkable victory for organized people over organized money.”
Petition for Declaratory Ruling:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/fp_et_al_nn_declaratory_ruling.pdf
Comcast Complaint:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/fp_pk_comcast_complaint.pdf
Comments:
http://www.freepress.net/files/fp_et_al_comcast_petition_fp_comments.pdf
Reply Comments:
http://www.freepress.net/files/freepress_comcast_petition_reply_comments.pdf
Free Press legal memoranda:
http://www.freepress.net/files/FP_et_al_Petition_Ex_Parte_Filing.pdf