LATEST NEWS
President Obama Embraces FCC Open Internet Rule
President Obama embraced the open Internet rulemaking at the Federal Communications Commission in his wide-ranging citizens' interview on YouTube.
"I’m a big believer in Net Neutrality …My FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has indicated that he shares the view that we’ve got to keep the Internet open, that we don’t want to create a bunch of gateways that prevent somebody who doesn’t have a lot of money but has a good idea from being able to start their next YouTube or their next Google on the Internet."
"This is something we’re committed to,” he continued. “We’re getting pushback, obviously, from some of the bigger carriers who would like to be able to charge more fees and extract more money from wealthier customers. But we think that runs counter to the whole spirit of openness that has made the Internet such a powerful engine for not only economic growth, but also for the generation of ideas and creativity."
The video is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP01t0Z4Hr8. More >
OIC Supports Call for Internet Freedom at Home and Abroad
We applaud Secretary Clinton’s support of the open Internet to promote global free speech and self expression. The Internet has provided a once-in-a-generation platform for individuals to speak out and exercise their universal human rights at the click of a mouse with little or no financial or technological barriers. More >
Collection of Comments to the FCC on Net Neutrality
The Open Internet Coalition has assembled comments to the FCC on Net Neutrality. View comments from interested parties in the private and public sectors. More >
Open Internet Coalition Launches Open Internet Coalition Launches "Protect the Net" Campaign at CES
The Open Internet Coalition launched a new "Protect the Net" campaign at the Consumer Electronics Show to build on growing support among technology innovators for protecting the open Internet.
To participate in the campaign, go to http://www.openinternetnow.com. More >
Insiders Weigh In on Net Neutrality
Watch Markham Erickson, Executive director of the Open Internet Coalition, discuss proposed Net Neutrailty rules on the Saturday, December 5th edition of The Communicators on C-SPAN. More >
Open Internet Coalition Statement on FCC Internet Openness Rulemaking
Today’s vote was the first step toward establishing enforceable protections for consumers accessing the Internet. While we saw increasingly heavy handed lobbying that attempted to obfuscate this issue over the past week, today’s vote showed that these tactics are counterproductive. Rather than trying to torpedo a process backed by a broad group of innovators and consumers, telcos should engage in the rulemaking with objective evidence making their case. More >
Tech Investors Back Neutrality Rules to Protect and Promote Innovation
A new public letter signed by 30 business investors in technology companies was sent today to the Chairman of the FCC and released by the Open Internet Coalition. Prominent venture capitalists --including five of the top ten ranked investors on the 2009 Forbes Magazine “Midas List” – support “the Commission’s ongoing efforts to adopt rules to safeguard the open Internet.” These investors and entrepreneurs back openness rules across all Internet networks, both wired and wireless, to drive “investment, job creation, and consumer welfare.” More >
Internet Pioneers Support Open Internet Policy at FCC
Five Internet pioneers involved in development of early Internet technologies, including ARPANET and TCP/IP communications protocols, released a public letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski applauding his commitment to non-discrimination and transparency principles in the upcoming Commission proceeding to promote an open Internet.
Signers of the letter include Vint Cerf, Stephen Crocker, David Reed, Lauren Weinstein, and Daniel Lynch. More >
OIC Releases Public Letter to Chairman Genachowski Supporting Open Internet Rules
A public letter signed by 27 executives and innovators from prominent Internet and technology companies in support of the process to adopt rules that preserve an open Internet was sent today to the Chairman of the FCC and released by the Open Internet Coalition. The letter is available here. More >
OIC Responds to AT&T Reversal of Course on Skype iPhone Application
As the Net Neutrality rulemaking begins later this month, it is important for policymakers to recognize that consumer rights need to be protected on both wireline and wireless networks, and feasibility arguments have been undercut by AT&T’s move today. This decision by AT&T clearly shows that the argument that wireless networks are too fragile to support openness for software and applications is simply not true. More >
OIC Joins Other Organizations in Supporting the FCC's Authority to Establish Net Neutrality
OIC joined five other organizations supporting the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to protect innovation and choice on the Internet. In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the groups back the FCC’s ruling that Comcast illegally blocked access to lawful online content.
Markham Erickson, Executive Director of the OIC, said:
“One argument currently used against a new Net Neutrality rulemaking at the FCC is that the Commission has the authority to act already. However, Comcast’s assertion that the FCC lacks authority to protect users’ rights to access content, applications, and services of their choice is one of the strongest reasons why we need a simple new rule of the road establishing Net Neutrality once and for all.”
OIC Responds to Letter from House Minority Leader Boehner and Whip Eric Cantor on Net Neutrality
"The Internet existed for more than 25 years under a neutral regime. During that time, a national data network was built out by telcos and cable providers, despite a neutrality requirement. To suggest that a return to that status quo threatens broadband investment is not borne out by experience. In fact, it is critical to investment that this issue be addressed sooner rather than later -- further delay in addressing this core policy issue will harm investment flows into new and innovative technologies." More >
Broad Support for Net Neutrality
Newspaper editorial boards from around the country have embraced Congressional and FCC proposals to protect Internet openness. Read the arguments for sensible Net Neutrality rules to foster competition and choice on the Internet.
New York Times: Access and the Internet
Los Angeles Times: Ensuring Net Neutrality
San Jose Mercury News: FCC Internet Rules will be good for consumers
Seattle Times: FCC protects Internet neutrality
St. Petersburg Times: Neutrality vital to health of Internet
More >
Digital Déjà Vu: Old Myths about Net Neutrality
Opponents of an open Internet make a number of charges that lack a basis in fact. Free Press rebuts many of arguments against enforcement of Net Neutrality in a new paper entitled Digital Déjà Vu: Old Myths about Net Neutrality (PDF). More >
CNBC: Equality on the Web
OIC Applauds FCC Net Neutrality Action
Statement by Markham Erickson, Executive Director, OIC:
“In a landmark move, Chairman Genachowski has put the FCC on course to protect the Internet economy and make sure it promotes consumer-friendly innovation. Over the last several years, the uncertainty around the extent and enforceability of non-discrimination rules has cast a shadow over investment and potentially stifled a key element of growth. The bold step by the Chairman will fulfill President Obama’s repeated commitment to Net Neutrality policies. More >
Waxman Endorses Net Neutrality Bill; Support Grows for Congressional Action
Statement by Markham Erickson, Executive Director:
"The addition of Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Henry Waxman as a co-sponsor of H.R. 3458, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, is a major and welcome step in Congressional support of the open Internet. On behalf of our seventy-seven members, we thank him for his strong leadership on this issue. More >
Open Internet Coalition Statement on Internet Freedom Bill
Statement by Markham Erickson, Executive Director:
"We applaud Ed Markey and Anna Eshoo who have both been strong supporters of the open Internet, for introducing this legislation. Taken in conjunction with the important work of Subcommittee Chair Rick Boucher on this issue, the bill is an important first step towards the goal of keeping the Internet open and free for speech and innovation.
"Currently, technology investors and innovators face an uncertain future - the extent of protection for consumers to use the applications and services of their choice is unclear and under challenge in federal court. We look forward to action in Congress and at the FCC to ensure net neutrality protections are codified in the law and the veil of uncertainty is lifted." More >
Economic Impact of the Open Internet
A new report, authored by two Harvard Business school professors and funded by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, illustrates the impact of the Internet on the American economy and shows why it is critical to protect the openness that has directly contributed to one of the greatest economic success stories in US history.
According to the report, the open Internet plays a major role in our economy. Key facts from the study:
- The Internet employs 1.2 million people directly in jobs that build or maintain the infrastructure, facilitate its use, or conduct advertising and commerce on that infrastructure.
- ISPs and hardware suppliers only contribute to 1/5th of the total employment in the Internet economy. Software, web hosting, search engines, ad agencies and e-commerce contribute the lion’s share of employment and economic impact.
- 3.05 million, or roughly 2 percent, of employed Americans owe their employment to the advertising-supported Internet.
- The advertising-supported Internet sustains about $300 billion, or approximately 2 percent, of the US GDP.
Free Press Testifies on Dangers of Deep Packet Inspection
Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott testified before Congress about the dangers of "deep packet inspection," a technology that allows Internet service providers to spy on and control online content at a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. Scott testimony underscores the negative impact this technology can have on an open Internet.
Download the Testimony here (PDF). More >
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The Open Internet Coalition stands for:
An Open Internet
Access to broadband networks should be open to all producers and consumers of Internet content on fair and equal terms.
Universal Affordable Access
Broadband Internet access should be universally available and affordable.
Quality through Competition
A competitive marketplace creates jobs, helps the American consumer, fosters innovation, and drives economic growth.
