Preserves Everything Consumers Have Today and Reinforces FCC Authority, While Protecting the Promise of Future Innovation and Choice
We have analyzed the proposed Google/Verizon Net Neutrality agreement and believe that the framework moves the debate closer to resolution by considering the perspectives of opposing sides and finding common ground, reaffirming the four principles for open networks, and embracing new levels of transparency. The agreement of these very pro-consumer principles is a credit to both parties, but it shows that these corporations need to make important concessions in the interest of consumers. The agreement is evidence of this progress.
For its part, the parties have recognized, as we have, that wireless networks are different, and that it is beneficial for consumers to have different ways of delivering services.
The proposed framework provides a positive environment for future investment, jobs and completion by protecting everything that the Internet brings us today, as well as encouraging tomorrow’s promise of choice and innovation of services and applications, including differentiated services like home health care monitoring. In short, it creates a clear path for the future of an open Internet.
We continue to have concerns about the possible imposition of strict net neutrality regulations that would hurt investment and innovation. If rigid rules were imposed, policymakers would risk locking innovation into today’s model of the Internet, when nobody really can predict future innovations – not providers, not consumers and not policymakers. That is why this suggested framework can be so beneficial to consumers, investors, competitors and the creation of information technology jobs.
In summary, the debate has been good for consumers because it has resulted in getting various sides to find common ground. We applaud the parties in proposing a workable public policy solution that would benefit consumers, preserve jobs and provide a path for future growth.