CONSUMER GROUPS OPPOSE EASING CABLE MODEM REGULATION
Consumer Federation of America (CFA) accused FCC of “attempting to illegally deregulate advanced telecommunications,” in comments filed on Commission’s rulemaking on regulation of broadband technology delivered over cable networks (CD June 19 p7). CFA, along with Tex. Office of Public Utility Counsel, Consumers Union and Media Access Project, said FCC didn’t clearly distinguish telecom information services, thereby ignoring distinction made by Congress. As result, agency’s definition of telecom as “part and parcel” or “integral” to cable modem service isn’t legal or technical conclusion, “but a business decision” made by cable companies, they said.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
CFA asked Commission to regulate telecom component of cable modem services, saying incumbent local telephone companies had purposefully delayed opening their local networks as that related to high-speed Internet access. CFA also asked FCC to determine necessary level of enforcement needed to ensure that “just and reasonable charges, practices, classification or regulations” were implemented.
However, High Tech Broadband Coalition urged FCC to take hands-off approach to cable modem service. While group believed agency must weed out any signs of “anticonsumer behavior,” it said “heavy-handed” intervention wasn’t needed. Coalition said cable modem service should be subjected to only “minimal regulation” in adherence with Telecom Act.
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) said Commission was right in finding that cable modem service fell under “other services” category of Cable Communications Policy Act (CCPA). EPIC said FCC should regulate cable modem service to protect privacy of subscribers so as to build trust between consumers and nation’s communications networks and services. EPIC applauded Commission for making industry subject to guarantees of CCPA, which it said recognized substantial interest in privacy as result of current technological advancements.