PolicyBlog

Free Press issued yet another heated statement yesterday on Google and Verizon's joint proposal that offers our two companies' views on how policymakers can bridge the gap in the network neutrality debate. With action verbs like “slam” and foreboding nouns like “pact” and “scheme,” the statement is a fun summer read.  But, like some other works of light fiction, it leaves one wanting more – in this case, the facts. There are many facts missing from Free Press’s extreme pronouncements, but let’s... Read More

USA Today’s editorial on network neutrality is not up to the paper’s usual standards. It ignores key elements of the Google-Verizon proposal that benefit consumers and the Internet: prohibitions on blocking or degrading, enforcement of a non-discrimination requirement and a presumption against all prioritization on Internet connections.   In fact, the non-discrimination provision and presumption against any prioritization is stronger than what the FCC could obtain through its threatened... Read More

The NYT article regarding conversations between Google and Verizon is mistaken.  It fundamentally misunderstands our purpose. As we said in our earlier FCC filing, our goal is an Internet policy framework that ensures openness and accountability, and incorporates specific FCC authority, while maintaining investment and innovation. To suggest this is a business arrangement between our companies is entirely... Read More

Today, Verizon filed a supplement to its previous Program Access Complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.  The new filing asks the commission to require Cablevision and Madison Square Garden, L.P. to sell Verizon access to the high-definition sports feeds of the MSG and MSG+ networks. See the full release... Read More

Our colleague Bill Kula has a quick update on what’s happening with Verizon’s efforts to have the FCC act on our (and your) complaints.  Bill says of MSG’s owners: “Cablevision is unlawfully withholding HD sports programming, and the record in that proceeding is complete. We filed our complaint over eight months ago, and there’s nothing left for the FCC to do but act on it." The whole post can be found... Read More

Verizon and Google CEOs, Ivan Seidenberg and Eric Schmidt, today highlighted what they see as the three stand-out components of the FCC's national broadband plan.  In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, the Internet sector duo cites the importance of innovation online, increasing access to the highest-quality broadband available, and making high-speed connections available to all Americans.  "The FCC underscores the importance of creating the right climate for private investment and market-driven... Read More

The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to deliver the National Broadband Plan to Congress Tuesday (March 16).   The chairman released a summary of the plan Monday (March 15).  The following is a statement by Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president for public affairs, policy and communications:“Verizon strongly supports the emphasis in the National Broadband Plan on the deployment of broadband facilities and adoption by all Americans.  To that end, we are... Read More

Below is the statement we released today: Verizon Statement on Federal Communications Commission’s Proposed Network Neutrality Rulemaking    WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission today approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on network neutrality.  The following is a statement by Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications:  “The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced today appears to be a substantial improvement from what we... Read More

Broadband take-up by U.S. households and businesses is among the strongest in the world, at least three times larger than the 20-percent level claimed by a European Commission spokesman quoted by the NYT. The number cited in the article is simply wrong. The Pew Research and Internet Life Project reported in June that 63 percent of U.S. households have broadband access. Leichtman Research Group research points to a level greater than two-thirds.  Among those who don’t subscribe to broadband,... Read More