The U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology today held a hearing on H.J. Res 37, disapproving of the FCC’s net neutrality order, which the Commission adopted in December. Jim Cicconi, AT&T Senior Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs, delivered the following statement:
Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Eshoo, Chairman Upton, Chairman Waxman, Chairman Barton, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to testify today on behalf of my company, AT&T. I recognize it is unusual to be asked to testify on a resolution on which we’ve not taken a position. However, as I’m sure all of you know, we have been involved for years in the issue that underlies H.J. Res. 37, and that is the protracted dispute over net neutrality regulation by the FCC.
Let me first stress that AT&T has long supported the “broadband principles” laid out by the FCC six years ago. We support an open Internet, and have promised to abide by that concept. But like many issues that start from a shared belief, this one quickly devolved into a long and contentious debate over specifics: whether the FCC should be able to enforce the broadband principles; whether a broad set of rules was needed; what legal authority the FCC has to put any such rules in place. And all of this despite any real evidence of a problem.
As in most regulatory debates, this one has not lacked for radical voices. Many sought heavy-handed government regulation and control of free markets… some for commercial advantage, others to advance their own ideology. Since this debate began back in 2005, AT&T has consistently opposed any FCC regulation of Internet services or facilities. This is still our strong preference today. We feel the antitrust laws, the Federal Trade Act, and the discipline of highly competitive markets are more than adequate to police any potential abuses.
Tomorrow, the FCC will meet to consider three related items that focus on increasing the deployment of telecommunications services on Tribal Lands. One of those items will specifically explore a range of recommendations to help close the wireless gap on Tribal Lands.
Wireless and broadband deployment continue to present unique challenges for many Tribal Lands in the nation. But that is not true everywhere. AT&T is today deploying a wireless broadband network on Tribal Lands in North Dakota, South Dakota and California and is committed to providing residents of those Native Nations with high quality wireless broadband services.
A bit of background: On June 22, 2010, the Commission unanimously approved the transfer of licenses and authorizations to AT&T in connection with Verizon’s sale of certain Alltel assets. In approving the license transfer, the Commission adopted a series of commitments made by AT&T to deploy wireless broadband networks and services to the acquired markets, many of which included Tribal Lands. More specifically, AT&T dedicated a capital budget of over $400 million to upgrade the network assets throughout the acquired markets by deploying a high speed HSPA broadband network. The FCC also specifically sought to ensure the continuity of high quality, low cost wireless services to the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, which also fell within the service area of the assets acquired by AT&T. AT&T committed to provide those services, dependent upon transfer of the appropriate eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation.
Posted by: AT&T Blog Team on February 28, 2011 at 5:02 pm
By Joel Lubin, AT&T Vice President of Public Policy
Last Wednesday, the Congressional Internet Caucus sponsored a panel discussion on the key hurdle to bringing broadband to all Americans – universal service and intercarrier compensation reform. If you weren’t able to make the Congressional event you missed a riveting discussion (and no, we’re not being facetious).
In a packed room at the Capitol, some of the key players in the debate gathered to discuss the FCC’s proposals to bring the telephone subsidy programs into the broadband era. For your viewing pleasure, here are some of the highlights of the hour and a half debate…..
John Jones of Century Link kicks off the discussion highlighting where the sparks really fly in this debate:
