Because every American
should have access
to broadband Internet.

The Internet Innovation Alliance is a broad-based coalition of business and non-profit organizations that aim to ensure every American, regardless of race, income or geography, has access to the critical tool that is broadband Internet. The IIA seeks to promote public policies that support equal opportunity for universal broadband availability and adoption so that everyone, everywhere can seize the benefits of the Internet - from education to health care, employment to community building, civic engagement and beyond.

The Podium

Blog posts tagged with 'Reform'

Tuesday, March 27

Crafting a More Effective FCC

By Rick Boucher

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Today, the House of Representatives is voting on the “FCC Process Reform Act,” a bill put forward by Rep. Greg Walden [R-OR] aimed at bringing the Commission’s process up to speed with the pace of innovation. In anticipation of the vote, Rep. Walden took to the pages of Politico in order to express why reform is so urgently needed. As he writes:

[P]rocess at the FCC is broke and does need fixing. This is not the fault of any one administration or any one FCC chairman. Indeed, the current chairman, Julius Genachowski, has improved the commission’s process in a number of ways. But it has fallen into sloppy habits over the years, and more needs to be done.

Sometimes the FCC acts before thoroughly examining whether regulation is needed. It’s now time to stop putting the regulatory cart before the horse. That’s why this bill requires the FCC to survey the marketplace, identify a failure and conduct a cost-benefit analysis before imposing rules.

The commission now frequently proposes to regulate without publishing the specific wording of a tentative rule. So public input can’t be specific. The result is rules that could prove less well-vetted and more likely to have unintended consequences. My bill would require the FCC to publish the specific text.

Not even the House of Representatives operates that way.

There’s no denying the FCC plays a vital role in American government. But as with most government agencies, readiness to act is always an issue. As we all know, technology moves at breakneck speed. New innovations, new disruptions to business models, arrive each and every day. Smart reforms, like those presented by Rep. Walden, are a vital first step in helping the Commission remain effective.

From allocating new spectrum for mobile broadband, to examining proposed mergers between companies aimed at better serving consumers, the FCC has a lot on its plate. If the Commission has any hope of keeping up with the blistering pace of technology, reform is absolutely necessary.

Tuesday, January 10

Reforming Lifeline, Ctd.

By Brad

Yesterday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the Commission was looking to reform its Lifeline program to better reflect the broadband age. Today the FCC published a handy fact sheet (PDF) breaking down its proposed changes.

Monday, January 09

Reforming Lifeline

By Brad

Earlier today, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the commission will be reforming and streamlining its Lifeline program to help encourage more broadband adoption. From the Chairman’s speech (PDF):

Altogether, our staff estimates that the reforms proposed in this Order could save the Fund as much as $2 billion over the next few years, keeping money in the pockets of American consumers that otherwise would have been wasted on duplicative benefits, subsidies for ineligible consumers, or fraudulent misuse of Lifeline funds.

These reforms would put the program on a firm footing for the future, so it can more effectively serve low-income consumers, including helping low-income consumers afford broadband.

Here’s video of Chairman Genachowski’s speech.

Watch live streaming video from thirdwaythinktank at livestream.com

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