VOL. 14, NO. 17
April 23, 2018
SURVEY WINNER

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 29-31
ARIA Resort & Casino
Las Vegas

MEMBER NEWS






COMMENT DEADLINES

June 4 

June 19
INCOMPAS Letter on Concerns About Paid Prioritization Included in Record for House Hearing
On April 17, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled "From Core to Edge: Perspective on Internet Prioritization." Given concerns over the perceived anticompetitive nature of certain forms of prioritization, the Subcommittee hearing was intended to achieve a better understanding of how network operators manage data flows over the Internet and how data is prioritized from the network core to the edge. 

INCOMPAS issued a letter in advance of the meeting describing how, if paid prioritization is allowed, ISPs will be able to leverage their control over their networks and access to subscribers to allow some websites to be put in front of others at times of congestion. The INCOMPAS letter was entered into the record by Rep. Michael Doyle (D-PA) during the hearing. See coverage of the hearing and the INCOMPAS letter in FierceTelecom and Multichannel News.

Video of the hearing, testimony and related documents are available on the subcommittee website
INCOMPAS CEO Pickering Discusses Future of Internet at  Federalist Society Event

Last week, CEO Chip Pickering spoke at the Federalist Society's Sixth Annual Executive Branch Review Conference on the future of the internet. He discussed ways to expand broadband competition and how an open internet is the ideal free market. Watch the beginning of this video to hear Pickering's explanation of why paid prioritization is an anticompetitive practice that will hurt consumers and businesses alike. 

The panel, moderated by Bryan Tramont, managing partner at Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer LLP, also included FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr; David J. Redl (pictured at left above), assistant secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; Michelle P. Connolly (pictured at right above), professor of the Practice of Economics at Duke University; and Brad Gillen, executive vice president at CTIA.
FCC Commissioner Clyburn Announces Retirement 
Last week, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn announced that she will be retiring before the Commission's May Open Meeting. Clyburn, an Obama nominee, joined the FCC in 2009.

"Competition and consumers have had no better champion than Commissioner Clyburn. She is a fighter filled with grace, substance and passion, who has truly earned the title of the 'Consumer Commissioner,'" said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "Her presence on the FCC as a genuine consensus builder will be missed. During her time as interim chairwoman of the Commission she always strove to move the FCC's agenda forward with a keen eye toward technology that lifts the boats of all consumers. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to Commissioner Clyburn for being a true competition hero. We thank her for her years of laudatory service."
FCC Releases May 10
Open Meeting Agenda
The FCC last week released a tentative agenda for May Open Meeting, which includes:
  • Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band - The Commission will consider an NPRM that would allow more efficient and effective use of 2.5 GHz spectrum by increasing flexibility for existing Educational Broadband Service (EBS) licensees and providing new opportunities for educational entities, rural Tribal Nations, and commercial entities to access unused portions of the band.
  • FM Translator Interference Rules - The Commission will consider a NPRM which proposes to streamline the rules relating to interference caused by FM translators and expedite the translator complaint resolution process.
  • Broadcast License Posting Rules - The Commission will consider NPRM seeking comment on whether to streamline or eliminate certain rules that require the physical posting and maintenance of broadcast licenses and related information in specific locations. 
Chairman Pai discussed this tentative agenda in a blog post entitled " On the Road Again."  

The open meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. It also will be streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live.