The bipartisan group of sponsors from both houses of Congress of the Wi-Fi Innovation Act wrote the FCC a joint letter Wednesday to “express our strong support for freeing up underutilized spectrum to maximize unlicensed use in the upper 5 GHz band,” as the legislation asks. The letter was signed by Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Reps. Bob Latta, R-Ohio; Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.; Darrell Issa, R-Calif.; and Doris Matsui, D-Calif. The upper 5 GHz band has “a unique opportunity” in maximizing those Wi-Fi frequencies, they said, saying they're “confident that the FCC can successfully resolve any potential interference issues through analysis and testing,” as they recommended.
Capitol Hill Democrats upped pressure on the FCC to form strong net neutrality rules, some backing a basis in Title II authority while others focused on banning paid prioritization. Congressional Republicans and industry associations have resisted Title II reclassification of broadband. They want the FCC to base any rules on Communications Act Section 706. Some pro-net neutrality allies are holding symbolic protests seeking Title II rules Wednesday. (See separate report below in this issue.)
Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., will host a net neutrality forum in Sacramento Sept. 24 alongside FCC commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, both Democrats. “Given that the FCC is expected to consider new net neutrality rules by the end of the year, I am holding this timely forum in Sacramento to further explore the potential impacts on consumers, entrepreneurs, and local businesses,” Matsui said in a statement Monday (http://1.usa.gov/1BnOrEC). “It is essential that the FCC listen to and engage with Americans outside of Washington.” Matsui introduced legislation (HR-4880) that would prohibit paid prioritization deals, a controversial debate topic amid the agency’s attempt to write new rules. Matsui did not announce the exact time or location but said the event will be webcast and that more details, including speakers, are forthcoming.
Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., is “working diligently” to preserve a strong net neutrality rule that keeps “the hallmark of the Internet -- by treating all data and content equally,” she said Wednesday at a Facebook small-business event in Sacramento, Calif., according to her prepared remarks. “This concept would preserve the ability of all small businesses to compete on a level playing field to sell their goods and services online.” She praised the power of social media marketing. It can “increase exposure and traffic to your company, help you develop loyal fans, improve your search ranking and improve sales,” Matsui said.
President Barack Obama weighed in on net neutrality in remarks that net neutrality advocates widely say condemn paid prioritization deals and may even warrant FCC reclassification of broadband as a Title II Communications Act service. Others said it’s a stretch to read Obama’s words that way or to contend there’s any split between him and the independent agency. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler launched a rulemaking for crafting net neutrality rules earlier this year and has defended it as asking questions, not yet prescribing any one path forward.
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced the Wi-Fi Innovation Act Wednesday. It’s a companion bill to one that Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., introduced earlier this summer. Its backers in the House are Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio; subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.; and Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “The Wi-Fi Innovation Act paves a pathway to maximize the use of spectrum and examine ways to expand the deployment of wireless networks and services across the country, so all can benefit from this next-generation technology,” Latta said in a statement. The legislation “directs the FCC to determine the extent to which unlicensed spectrum can be shared and utilized in increasingly innovative ways to benefit consumers and our economy,” Eshoo said. The bill says the FCC should run tests on possible interference in the 5 GHz band, and prompts a study on different barriers to Wi-Fi deployment in low-income areas.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., assembled several liberal senators to ask the FCC to reclassify broadband as a Title II telecom service. Many Republicans and much of industry have opposed the move to reclassify, but Markey said it’s necessary for stronger net neutrality rules that would prohibit paid prioritization deals. Tuesday had been the initial comments deadline for the FCC’s net neutrality rulemaking proceeding, though the agency postponed the deadline. (See separate report above in this issue.)
Despite expressing some misgivings, Democratic FCC commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Friday to approve what Chairman Tom Wheeler called a “watershed” E-rate modernization order that will provide $1 billion annually for the next five years for Wi-Fi connections within schools and libraries. In moves observers saw as having been made to forge a commission majority, while giving a nod to concerns from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. (CD July 9 p5), and others that the Wi-Fi commitment could endanger funding for connecting schools and libraries to broadband, the order underwent a few changes from Wheeler’s original draft (CD July 2 p2).
"I'm not going to endorse any effort to do otherwise,” Leahy said at the field hearing. “The open Internet principles are the bill of rights for the online world."
Congressional Democrats introduced bicameral legislation Tuesday that would end paid prioritization deals. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., released the bill, attracting some industry pushback as well as praise from consumer advocates. After approving, on a party-line vote, a net neutrality NPRM last month that critics said would allow fast lines, the FCC now is looking into interconnection deals between ISPs and websites like Netflix (CD June 17 p2).