Much of the quest for developing a nationwide broadband plan has centered on ubiquitous deployment and online speeds, some arguing for speeds well over 100 mbps.  Other policy wonks have argued that we need more competitors and still others want lower prices.  In response to one Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) attempt to slowdown bandwidth hogs [...]

Washington, DC – The American Consumer Institute today released a letter from Senior Fellow Dr. Larry F. Darby to Ms. Sharon Gillett, Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau.  The letter set forth ten discrete sets of issues germane to the Commission’s impending Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Matter of Net Neutrality.  The letter was [...]

October 13, 2009
Ms. Sharon Gillett, Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau
445 12th St., SW
Washington, DC 20554
Regarding the Pending Net Neutrality NPRM
Dear Ms. Gillett:
This letter is motivated in large part by Chairman Genachowski’s recent announcement of his intention to launch a rulemaking to strengthen and extend the Commission’s Net Neutrality principles. Its purpose is to raise some issues and [...]

Last weeks FCC workshop was focused on economic issues in broadband competition . The Commission invited academic experts and senior competition policy officials from the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to address one of the foundations of the FCC’s clear intention to impose a variety of new regulations on broadband network and [...]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon spell out proposed new government regulations imposed in the name of preserving and fostering “network neutrality.” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced plans to expand and convert existing FCC network neutrality ”principles” to formal new rules. Importantly to the purpose of this ConsumerGram, the agency would extend the application [...]

The Federal Communications Commission is now engaged in a broad review of the nation’s broadband performance and policy, including the possibility of new government regulations to achieve broadband goals. Indeed, the Commission is charged by Congress with the responsibility for formulating and submitting by February next year a National Broadband Strategy or Plan. Chairman Julius [...]

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 [...]

The September 17, 2009 Best’s Insurance News reports that three state insurance commissions will provide direct conversations with the insurance industry in return for a $1,000 donation.

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. [...]