Today, the FCC Chairman announced his intention to embark on what could be a risky path toward regulating the Internet and wireless services in order to fix a theoretical problem – one that is rarely observed in the market and, if it were ever to occur, one that could easily be addressed with the Commission’s [...]

The Department of Justice should be congratulated for its filing with the federal court reviewing the Google Books settlement. The Department’s forceful arguments about this settlement underscore the concerns that we, and many others, have raised about this deal. With this deal, Google, which already dominates the online search market, would be given a significant [...]

Yesterday’s hearing on the Google Books settlement provided a great opportunity for members of Congress to hear about the many concerns that authors, legal experts and consumers have about this settlement. The deal, as currently written, would give the most dominant online firm a significant advantage over its rivals and online book competitors like Amazon. [...]

Steve Pociask of the American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research  discusses in this Forbes.com commentary the major concern over Google’s settlement with author and publisher groups. Click here for the commentary.

A bill titled the ‘‘Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009’’ was recently introduced by House members Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Anna Eshoo of California. The bill would amend the Communications Act of 1934 in order to “…establish a national broadband policy, safeguard consumer rights, [and] spur investment and innovation…” It would do so by [...]

Groups Calling for Increased Price Controls of Telecommunications Services Would Like Government Subsidies
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking into allegations of market failure and claims of high special access prices, even though no party or government agency has yet to produce any empirical evidence that demonstrates that a market failure actually exists.  Without any data [...]

For Immediate Release
July 2, 2009
DOJ Will Investigate Google Book Search Settlement
We applaud the Department of Justice for taking this step to launch an investigation of the Google Books settlement. The deal, as written now, will give the most dominant online firm a significant advantage over its rivals and online book competitors like Amazon. The [...]

 Addressing the Risks of Climate Change:
The Environmental Effectiveness and Economic Efficiency of Emissions Caps and Tradable Permits, Compared to Carbon Taxes
 
 
An ACI study sponsored in February 2007 and authored by esteemed national economist and former Undersecretary of Commerce Dr. Robert Shapiro found that carbon taxes are a better alternative to emissions caps and tradable permits (commonly referred [...]

 
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC 20554
 
    
 
In the Matter of                                                )
A National Broadband Plan for Our Future       )                       GN Docket No. 09-51
 
 
COMMENTS OF THE AMERICAN CONSUMER INSTITUTE
 
 
The American Consumer Institute (“Institute”) hereby submits comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) in the above-captioned proceeding. 
 
 
I.  INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
 
            [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2009
The American Consumer Institute Files Comments with FCC Regarding National Broadband Plan
Highlights the role of the private sector and consumers in achieving universal broadband access
WASHINGTON – The American Consumer Institute yesterday filed comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s notice of inquiry on the national broadband plan. In its filing, [...]