Internet Innovation Alliance Supports FCC Moving Forward with Processes That Seek to Find Consensus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 2, 2010 – In response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) newly announced Open Internet Public Notice seeking further comment on issues related to ‘specialized’ services and mobile broadband, Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) Co-Chairmen David Sutphen and Bruce Mehlman issued the following statements:

Internet Innovation Alliance Recommends Four Pillars for Broadband Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 10, 2010 – In an effort to reduce uncertainty, maximize investment and achieve universal connectivity, the Internet Innovation Alliance announced today the IIA Four Pillars for Broadband Policy.  The Pillars are intended to offer a roadmap for advancing the Obama Administration’s worthy goal of broadband access for every American.

New Study Shows Internet Regulations Would Hinder Goal of Universal Broadband

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 3, 2010 - The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and access for all Americans, today released the following comments from Co-Chairmen Bruce Mehlman and David Sutphen on a new Frost & Sullivan study that suggests that net neutrality regulations under consideration in Washington would likely hinder the goal of universal broadband access, impose increased costs on consumers and result in significant job losses.

According to Frost & Sullivan Program Manager Mike Jude, Ph.D., net neutrality regulations would heighten uncertainty and risk in the business case for expanding broadband infrastructure, which could significantly discourage investment among network operators. If investment is maintained in an environment constrained by net neutrality regulations, the Frost & Sullivan model indicates that costs are “ultimately borne by the consumer” when the opportunity for network operators to generate service revenue is curtailed.

Internet Innovation Alliance Urges FCC to Dismiss Net Neutrality NPRM

IIA: NPRM a distraction from advancing National Broadband Plan

True threats to the free and open Internet more likely to be exacerbated by proposed Internet regulations than solved

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2010 - The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and access for all Americans, today released the following statement on its reply comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding feedback to the Net Neutrality Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM):

“At this decisive moment in the American broadband revolution, we should strive to give greater certainty to telecom investors and innovators and rally support to the collective push for universal access and adoption, rather than advancing divisive regulations that increase investors’ uncertainty. Because marketplace realities do not necessitate new Internet rules at this time, we urge the FCC to shelve such regulations and devote all of its energies toward advancing the National Broadband Plan.

Then and Now: Progress of Internet Technology Marked by National Broadband Plan

Internet Innovation Alliance Applauds Decade of Success in Broadband Adoption and Deployment, Looks to Next Steps

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 16, 2010 – Bruce Mehlman and David Sutphen, co-chairmen of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a diverse coalition that first called for a National Broadband Strategy in July 2008 and has been advocating for universal broadband, competition and innovation in the space for 6 years, today released the following statements in support of the Federal Communication Commission’s newly released National Broadband Plan.

Seven New Broadband Ambassadors join the Internet Innovation Alliance Program

Business and Community Leaders Support National Broadband Effort

Washington, D.C. - March 1, 2010 - Underscoring the need for an effective National Broadband Plan—a simple, coherent set of goals that complement and accelerate the efforts in the marketplace to achieve universal adoption of high speed Internet—seven community leaders joined the Internet Innovation Alliance’s Broadband Ambassador program today. Coming from diverse professional backgrounds, each ambassador’s common tie to the IIA is enthusiastic support for broadband Internet access and adoption for all Americans.

“These new Ambassadors bring strength to the IIA’s goal of developing and implementing the strongest possible National Broadband Plan,” said Bruce Mehlman, a founder and co-chair of the IIA. “Each of our new ambassadors knows firsthand the transformative capabilities of broadband Internet .”

The seven new IIA Broadband Ambassadors represent a diverse spectrum of talent. The ambassadors are:

Sylvia Aguilera, Executive Director of Http: Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP)

Harry Alford, President and CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce

Ed Foster Simeon, President, United States Soccer Foundation

Joseph P. Fuhr, Professor of Economics, Widener University and Senior Fellow, American Consumer Institute

Jimmy Lynn, Managing Partner, JLynn & Associates

Marcia Thomas-Brown, Program Manager for the National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved

 

Navarrow Wright, Social Media and Internet Consultant, Maximum Leverage Solutions

Internet Innovation Alliance Reacts to FCC Broadband Survey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 23, 2010 - Bruce Mehlman and David Sutphen, co-chairmen of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a diverse coalition that has supported broadband development since 2004, today released the following statements in response to a new FCC survey and study on broadband Internet adoption in America. 

From Bruce Mehlman:

“I commend the FCC for its leadership on broadband adoption and for recognizing the role the Internet plays in the American job market.  We no longer operate in a brick-and-mortar economy.  Broadband increases opportunities for American businesses large and small to succeed and advance and enables new job creation as well.  Investing in Internet technology and infrastructure benefits all business sectors, and at a time when economic recovery is at the top of our national agenda, broadband advancement has never been more critical.”

From David Sutphen:

“The new FCC study underscores the need to remain focused on closing the digital divide by addressing the American public’s attitudes about broadband and reinforces the IIA’s belief that digital literacy must be a key component of the National Broadband Strategy, due to Congress next month.  In a 2009 survey of 900 African Americans and Hispanics by Obama pollster Cornell Belcher, 43 percent of respondents cited not knowing how to use the Internet or not seeing the need for the Internet as the reason why they are not online, and 44 percent of those same minorities polled said they would be more likely to subscribe to Internet services if they were provided free lessons on how to use the technology.  Bridging the digital divide and getting every American online should be our top priority—broadband Internet is the great enabler and the great equalizer.”

10 Reasons Broadband Focus Must Remain on Getting Every American Online

Internet Innovation Alliance Addresses Recent Comments on Proposed Internet Regulations

Sutphen: Net neutrality debate distracts from addressing the digital divide, common goal of connecting all Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 4, 2010 – David Sutphen, co-chair of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a broad-based coalition that has supported broadband development since 2004, today released the following statement and facts to help clarify recent public comments on net neutrality and the digital divide:

“There are many more effective ways to address the digital divide than divisive new regulations unrelated to adoption or deployment, which bring a high degree of uncertainty and could have unintended consequences.

“The FCC should invest its time and political capital where the returns are highest:  in the National Broadband Strategy – a common goal for all parties – if it really wants to help connect every American to the benefits of high-speed Internet. The net neutrality distraction will disserve efforts to remedy persistent digital divides and imperil critical elements of the National Broadband Strategy.”

Minimize Government Regulation, Taxation and Burdens to Achieve Universal Broadband

CES Tech-Enthusiasts Say: Poll

Attendees of the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas strongly agree minimal government regulation and taxation are key to reaching all Americans with broadband Internet, according to the results of an informal survey conducted at the conference by the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA).

Out of six potential answers related to how the government should ensure universal broadband availability and adoption, 31 percent of 259 survey respondents chose “Minimize regulation, taxation and government oversight of innovators, entrepreneurs and private companies” as the most important. This result points to a belief among the tech-savvy attendees of CES that a light regulatory touch could spur innovation, whereas heavy-handed regulation and bureaucratic red tape could stifle the investment and creativity that led to some of today’s greatest technology inventions, many of which were featured at the world-renowned convention.

Internet Innovation Alliance Urges FCC to Stay Focused on Critical Broadband Policy Initiative,

Avoid “Unnecessary Distraction” of Net Neutrality Battles

WASHINGTON—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and access for all Americans, today released the following statement on its comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) issued on October 22, 2009:

Less than Half of African Americans and Hispanics Regularly Use the Internet

Yet Overwhelming Majority Agrees that Internet Access is Critical to Success in Education, Business, Community and Family Life

New Findings of Groundbreaking National Survey on Minority Internet Use from Cornell Belcher – Former DNC and Obama Presidential Campaign Pollster – To Be Discussed at Internet Innovation Alliance Broadband Symposium Today in Washington, D.C.

California State Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Núñez, Rey Ramsey, CEO of Nonprofit OneEconomy, among Speakers Addressing Opportunities and Advantages of Broadband Internet

WASHINGTON D.C. – December 10, 2009 – Only 42 percent of African Americans and Hispanics regularly use the Internet, yet they overwhelmingly agree that Internet access is critical to achieving success, according to new findings from a national survey of 900 minority adults conducted by Brilliant Corners Research, led by Pollster Cornell Belcher. The results from this survey will be revealed today in Washington, D.C., at the Internet Innovation Alliance’s (IIA) Symposium, “Universal Broadband:  Access for All Americans.”

The Honorable Fabian Núñez and Entrepreneur David Steward to Lead National Broadband Call to Action

- Núñez and Steward join Internet Innovation Alliance as Honorary Chairmen of the IIA Broadband Ambassador Program; will lead educational and advocacy campaign for broadband access and adoption for all Americans -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 9, 2009 - The Honorable Fabian Núñez, Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly, and David Steward, chairman and co-founder of World Wide Technology, Inc., the largest African-American-owned business in America, will lead the IIA Broadband Ambassador Program, the IIA announced today.  As Honorary Chairmen of the program, Núñez and Steward will seek to harness their legislative and business experience to highlight the critical importance and benefits of every American having access to broadband, particularly at a time when adoption and accessibility of wireless Internet is receiving increased focus.

Statement of Support from IIA for the National Cable & Telecom Association’s Adoption Plus Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 1, 2009 – The Internet Innovation Alliance, a broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and access for all Americans, today released the following statement in support of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) Adoption Plus (“A+”) program:

Internet Innovation Alliance Launches “IIA en Español” on Website

Internet Innovation Alliance Launches “IIA en Espanol” on Website

- Online tool is designed to serve as a resource on technology and broadband-related issues for Spanish language communities -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2009 - The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) today launched “IIA en Espanol,” a section of the website designed to serve as a resource on important broadband and technology-related information for Spanish language communities. The content includes key studies and facts about broadband, developments with IIA Members and Ambassadors from the Hispanic community and news related to the Internet industry, all available in Spanish at http://www.internetinnovation.org/Spanish.

Internet Innovation Alliance Names David Sutphen New Co-Chair

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 27, 2009 – The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) today named David Sutphen Co-Chair of the broadband-focused organization.  Sutphen has held significant leadership positions in Congress, the entertainment industry and trade associations.