he went to the federal communications commission, mother may i? the first thing sec did was check with her experts, most of whom worked for rca. they were told by the experts that it didn't really work. that took a while to get over but he was finally given allocation for the system and some experimental licenses in the later years of the 1930's, but by 1940, 1941, there were about 400,000 users of f.m. radio and the united states. people who had gone out and bought those big fm radio consoles. 400,000. now the war comes, the colonel goes to do radio and production stops. when the war is ending, the federal communications commission comes back and takes another look at this band they have allocated for f.m. by the way, the service got rave reviews and was really anticipated to take off off after world war ii as a civilian technology that was a very popular with high fidelity broadcasting. the fcc decided no. we're going to move this band over the vociferous objection of edwin armstrong. the sec ripped the existing allocation, 42 to 50 megahertz ou

second, the federal communications commission must require callers to block unverified calls, fake calls, something the commission has yet to do. and third, we need to increase from one year to three years the time for the federal communications commission to pursue penalties for robocallers that intentionally violate the rules. that is the recipe for success. and that is what the traced act does. this bill we will vote on today has enormous support across the country. 54 state and territory attorneys general, all of the commissioners at the federal communications commission, and at the federal trade commission, major industry associations, and leading consumer groups endorse the legislation and agree that the traced act is an essential weapon in combating the rise of illegal fraudulent robocalls. senator thune and i are joined by over 80 of our colleagues in support of this bill. this is not a liberal or a conservative issue. it is in -- it is an a everyone issue. it affects the elderly, the young, the small business owner and the student, our grandparents, our naishes, our teachers --

. >>> now a look at president trump's 2020 budget request for the federal communications commission and the federal trade commission. chairs of both agencies, pi of the fcc and joseph simons of the ftc also spoke about 5g technology, data privacy and robocalls, as they testified in front of this senate appropriations subcommittee for an hour and forty minutes. [ banging gavel ] all right, folks. the subcommittee will come to order. we're going hear today from the fiscal year 2020 budget request from the fcc and the ftc. we have with us today our two chairmen from the fcc, chairman pi, who has served as chairman since january of 2017. he was a previously a commissioner on the federal

commission, you have an agency, and a chairman who is forward-looking. i think this nation and the communications industry is better for it. >> just to take one regulation, just recently the federal communications commission unanimously opposed is the proposed shifting the goal of universal service fund to include broadband services sow is provided and subsidized all around the nation. is that the first step in getting broadband reclassified from title one to title to as a common carrier? >> i would not say it is the first of doing that. it is a recognition of how the market and the communications industry is evolving. they are about 26% of the nation that do not use a land line as their primary communications device. there is a recognition of that. there is recognition that with companies like skype, in terms of how they are communicating, it is not just on their mobile phones. we recognize there is a need for us to shift. there is a need for persons to be connected, especially if they are going to save money to provide them with more options. this is another example where there is a need, and we have an obligation to keep up, retrofit ourselves, retool, and as we say, we boots.

when al gore recommended reed hundt be made the chair of the federal communications commission, that was a great appointment. because he understood what the spirit of this law was, what was required to create a real revolution in our country. and he did it. and right up to today, the very last rulemaking in the bill was voted out last week by the federal communications commission, the last one from 20 years ago. and it's on opening up the set-top box that people use on top of their cable tv set, right? and right now everyone in america, 99% of americans are renting that from the company. renting it. like they used to have to rent the black rotary dial phone that we did away with, that rental. and so the fcc is now going to open it up, and that is going to save consumers $6-$15 billion a year because they can just go down to a best buy and buy a different set-top box that they will own. they won't have to rent these. but it's also going to open up young technologists all across the country, the ability to reinvent how that set-top box works even while preserving the the copyrights of

. >> this week on "the communicators," an update on efforts by the federal communications commission to develop a plan to expand broadband in the united states. our guest is blair levin who's leading up the initiative at the fcc. >> host: well, blair levin is back at the federal communications commission, this time as the omnibus broadband initiative executive directer, and he is our guest this week on "the communicators." amy schatz of "the wall street journal" is joining us, joining in the questioning of mr. levin. we're about 50-odd days away from the national broadband plan being presented to congress, could you give us a status update on that report? >> guest: sure. we have been giving status updates all along. in september we laid out for the fcc kind of what we thought the state of broadband was in the united states. in november we laid out what are the most significant problems we need to deal with, a couple weeks ago we laid out how to think about how to address those problems. and right now we're in the situation where over the holidays we are busy trying to kind of write up

the executive session we'll be voting on nominees who will fill key positions at the federal communications commission, federal trade commission, department of commerce, and several coast guard promotions. both the fcc and f.t.c. have responsibility to expand connectivity and promote the protection of consumers online. this morning we'll be voting on the nomination of jessica woaz roesten worsele to be commissioner of the federal communications commission. if confirmed she will continue to lead the agency's important work to ensure that every american has access to reliable, affordable broadband. having strong leadership at the helm. fcc to implement the broadband investments could not be more important. i look forward to her confirmation this morning. next we have a commissioner of the federal trade commission, the f.t.c. is responsible for protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, especially online and enforcing the nation's antitrust laws. he has the experience and expertise in privacy that the commission needs at this critical moment. he has bipartisan support from all the sitting

a discussion with michael copps democratic member of the federal communications commission. >> host: we are pleased to welcome back to "the communicators," fcc commissioner michael copps. commissioner thank you for being with us. he also joining us is amy schatz of "the wall street journal." commissioner if i could start with the att, t-mobile usa acquisition. what do you see is the biggest impediment to that happening and how long do you see the process taking? >> guest: well, last part first i really don't know how long the process will take. there's some speculation it could be a better part of a year. i don't know that it should take that long but we will just have to wait and see with the expectations of the commission are. are. this is a huge chance action. it is a paradigm altering transaction insofar is the world of wireless goes. you will remember in the comcast merger that i said at the outset that it was a very -- and would have been a very steep climb for me. ended up voting against it. this is maybe even a steeper climb from the standpoint of a lot of power and a lot of

the chairman of the federal communications commission ajit pai is taking his big to relax. he is so proud of what has nowen happened at net neutrality is taken off the books despite 22 million americans saying they wanted them to stay on people. consumers don't trust them to do the right thing unless strict rules are in place. when you take a democratized platform with the most opportunity for communication, u.k. innovation. youu get democracy online and that's what this fight is all about. it is far from over. we are going to intensify and ensure that there is going to be a vote on the floor of the house of representatives. conventional wisdom was all over last december. it was over. they didn't in any way anticipate the vote here on the senate floor to reinstitute them they are underestimating dramatically the response of americans all across our country, defending on the house of representatives, onon the congress that has yet to vote on these issues. we will see millions of teachers, small business owners, act today's mobilized to protect the internet. they demonstrated

federal communications commission f.c.c. has decided to do away with net neutrality rules the landmark decision was put in place and twenty fifteen under former president barack obama it barred providers from blocking or slowing access to content or charging consumers more that's about to change the f.c.c. is moving as part of u.s. president donald trump's push to scale back regulation in many economic sectors. next neutrality rules banned internet providers from giving preferential treatment to certain websites after the f.c.c. vote that seems to be a thing of the past. the ending of net neutrality has been met with fury by millions of internet uses both online through social media. and offline at this protest outside the f.c.c. headquarters they say consumers will be forced to stump up the costs of say paying for faster access to their favorite sites or even paying to access certain websites that all. say it will saddle content platforms with costs that they will be forced to pass on to their consumers the chairman of the

. >>> the federal communications commission will now require broadcasters to maintain constant volume levels for programs and commercials. this new rule takes effect next december. it gives them time to come up with waves to smooth the differences in the audio levels.

so the federal communication commission is the nation's communication's regulator.tablished in 1934 and there's currently 5 commissioners who allocated to the fcc. he set communication policies for the entire country. anything having to do with radio, tv or satellite or wireless or telephone or the internet that you have, we have a pretty gro broad jurisdictiond our goal is to modernize our communication system so that every american can have access to cutting edge communication services. my own goal as a chairman of the agency are, since i am the chief cue tive officer of the fcc are to modernize the rules, to make internet access is able to get it. to make sure that we are as transparent as we can be. and work with the members of congress, administration and the public to see how we can work to move barred to deliver digital opportunity to all americans. >> armstrong: talk about when you say regulating television, telecom, and the broadcast industry, what does that really mean for everyday america. >> guest: we regulate the spectrum, the public airways that used t

>> i am urging the federal communications commission to do everything they can to protect net neutrality for everyone. >> plus, immigration reform, house republicans are threatening impeachment if the president acts alone. >> impeachment would be a consideration. >> hurting the president of mexico, later, 2016. >> reduce the interest rates on student loans. >> new size elizabeth warn's pop ulism is being embrated by hillary clinton. in the g.o.p., the bush family is promoting jeb. >> they are saying he is going to be a great president. >> this guy has a cruise to the future coloring book. >> let. >> all that and more. >> people out there who can vote that just don't. >> that's it? now on "power politics." "hello, everybody: i am david shuster as the u.s. government prepares to issue new rules shaping the future of the internet president obama has taken sides. this week, the president joined consumer groups who believe internet access should be treated like electricity and water, the preponderate urged the federal communications commission to adopt rules that would ensure all internet tra

president, i rise today in opposition to the president's nomination of ajit pai to head the federal communications commission. my view is that, in particular, mr. pai will do an enormous amount of damage to one of the foundational principles of the internet -- net neutrality -- and i am going to outline why that would be a horrendous mistake for our country. mr. president, after we came to use the internet and see what an extraordinary asset it could be to our country, really beginning late in the 1990's, we laid out what i still consider to be the legal foundation for the internet.

. >> now last may, the federal communication commission concluded in an annual wireless report that the wireless sector is not effectively competitor. that was the first time in 14 years that they drew that conclusion. >> i think what they did, they didn't reach any conclusion where previously they had said the market was competitor. >> right. >> when they issued that report, i believe it was commissioner cause was very concerned about the overall increase in concentration that's taken place over the last five or ten years. you know, he sort of telegraphed that the commission needs to be careful about allowing additional concentration in the wireless markets. and, you know, i think that statement alone was one the reason that is you've seen a lot of people say that this could have a very difficult time at the federal communications commission. >> just to follow up, do you think the fccs determination about competition, the wireless market will impact the agencies review of this transaction? >> i think it will. i think again it will make the fcc at least start from a presumption that thi

and this is the federal trade commission as well as the federal communications commission. the federal trade commission actually took this to a vote. it was a 5-0 unanimous, bipartisan vote that strongly said there was no indication of systemic market failure that would necessitate net neutrality rules. net neutrality has been up until this proceeding at the fcc sort of what i call a rorschach term, it was undefined. but now we do have proposed rules that gives us a framework for debate, which i think is a good thing. the first thing we need to the address i would like for potential commenters is to, please, give us hard evidence of systemic market failure that, in other words, the concern is for the proponents of net neutrality regulation is that network owners and operators, phone companies, cable companies, wireless companies might somehow discriminate against content applications in an anticompetitive way to favor their own wiz interests -- business interests. thus far there has not been proof of systemic market failure. there have been three, four, five maybe examples o

thought this could, if not derail, at least slow some of the other priorities of the federal communications commission. could you explain a little bit more about that? >> not as the commission, but perhaps on the hill too. i worked on the hill for 15 years. i am not going to predict what the is going to do, but if we are talking about incentive options and things like that, this is change, and does it change the name of the game? if you have one less competitor in the wireless market, does that make it more or less attractive? in regards to public safety and so much spectrum, these are all factors that might have the effect of encouraging some folks to say well, let's see what happens before we go ahead and act. >> gordon smith was recently on this program. here is what he had to say about potential spectrum auctions. >> would your viewers need to understand is the difference between broadcast spectrum, the way we utilize it, and the way wireless uses it, is that when we use it, our transmission is one to everyone in a desperate -- one to every one in a demographic area. if i send you a video on my te

just under two hours and 45 minutes. >> welcome to today's hearing on oversight of the federal communications commissionversight hearing last march, i expressed my amazement that an agency as important as the federal communications commission has not been

genachowski former head of the federal communications commission to help run its leveraged buyout division genic house he was chairman of the f.c.c. until may but now will serve carlyle as managing director and partner focusing on investments in technology media and telecommunications genachowski is an advocate of and free and open internet and wall at the f c c he supported rules against discrimination by internet service providers over what content they carry. well there you have it will be checking these stories and keeping you posted on all the latest. now back during the housing bubble very very few people predicted the financial crisis however it mr warner mosely or did and he was capable of making this prediction by using the economic theory known as an empty or modern monetary theory

he was on the presidential transition team, focused on telecommunications and the federal communications commission. dr. jamison, welcome to the communicators. biographyed in your that you were at one time head of the national association of regulatory utility commissions. what does a regulatory utility commission to -- do? mark: i was the chair of a committee within the national association, that's a very different thing. it was a subcommittee. what a public utility commissioner does in the united they regulate utility. setting what the service quality standards will it focuses on the infrastructure rollout and development. in some instances, it determines how markets will work. that's basically the job of the utility regulator. that his formal job. i train a lot of people around the world in this, the biggest job is to regulate the politicians. there was a time when utilities were regulated by legislative bodies and city councils. that system never worked well. people would get out of business, it fell. a little over 100 years ago, we set up these agencies to be a buffer between the political pre

just under two hours and 45 minutes. >> welcome to today's hearing on oversight of the federal communications commissionversight hearing last march, i expressed my amazement that an agency as important as the federal communications commission has not been reauthorized by congress in 25 years, making it the oldest expired authorization within the commerce committee's expansive jurisdiction. reversing a

rulemaking also requires the federal communications commission to adopt deadlines for action on several types of filings before the agency. as i know all too well from my own experience, having been regulated by the federal communications commission when my wife arnede in the radio industry, -- and i were in the radio industry, items can sit at the agencies for literally years without any action and then they're acted upon and the person bringing the action may have 30 days, on something that's sat there for 10 years. now, the second proceeding is an inquiry that deals with more complex issues. giving the federal communications commission flexibility in deciding whether and how to implement those reforms. now, by giving the f.c.c. flexibility when setting procedures and deadlines, we're not constraining the agency. rather we're providing them with goals to meet and allowing them the, the professionals there at the f.c.c., to determine the best way to meet those goals. many of the reforms in the bill are things that the commission itself already has the authority to do under existing law

might provide better cell phone coverage but to set it up the federal communications commission wants to auction off the bandwidth used by meteorologists to predict the weather and that nasa warns could knock forecasting accuracy all the way back to nine hundred seventy the current federal communications commission proposal would have a significant negative impact on the transmission of critical science data the problem has to do with a special radio frequency sensors that detect weather patterns operate on the same wavelength that five g. is set to use now these sensors are vital for quickly informing the public of natural disasters without them it would have been impossible to predict hurricane sandy's trajectory in two thousand and twelve and meteorologists are worried because a new five g. network could drown out that information and this is a very difficult thing because a lot of the radio frequencies that are used to sense the atmosphere to get of starvation is about the weather are very close to areas where five g. will occur and in fact we do know that many of the weather sure

. >> the chair of the federal communications commission talks about 5g spectrum and what it could mean for national security. she highlights the united states and infrastructure investments. good afternoon. welcome to csis. people don't realize the nature of national security has changed in the last couple of decades. it's not as imperative as it was. the u.s. in some ways is a little bit behind other countries when it comes to how we think about the spectrum and how we think about 5g. 5g is the core of economic growth in the future and how we need the spectrum needs. let me say that we are grateful for jessica rosen morsel chart of the federal communications commission has agreed to command a speak on the topic today. she brings over two decades of communications experience, policy experience and service to the fcc. prior to joining, she was the senior communications counsel for the senate committee on science and transportation. under the leadership of john d rockefeller many admired and senator daniel in a way. before entering public service, she practiced communications on washingt

haven't had net deutsch of the rules until quite recently and they were applied by the federal communications commission in december of 2010 and they haven't got it into a fact yet curious of for the argument that we are seizing the open internet by applying the new regime is a non-sequitur that is to say that we've developed great dynamism and protection of the consumer interest and tremendous innovation in terms of content application by having a world in which archival companies with a be transferred or application providers can try out innovative business models and come up with business deals to try to see what works and what is most efficient and that's what we've had and if you want to predict that you ought to expand in the future rather than giving different regimes. >> what about the commissioner cop's point that we are turning over a lot of the control to the large corporations which is, test? >> they are not turning over control. the extent that the gatekeepers as they are called pejoratively have the ability to squelched consumer interest that's the system we've got it's not that we are tur

sure the media protects the public i'm simply ways are considered public property the federal communications commission was charged with the responsibility of protecting the people before the f.c.c. decided broadcasters needed to be licensed to licenses were free of charge but there was a catch t.v. and radio owners had to serve the public if they did not people could challenge their sizes and the f.c.c. could take them away. and the f.c.c. understood that radio and t.v. should be owned locally so they passed strict rules limiting the number of stations any one person could l.a. independent theater to stay cool be told me six hours in operated by n.b.c. . then came the war. and radio became a lifeline. for president of united states the information we were getting was vital only that a date which will live. in infamy important to our national security important to our democracy our earth is edward morrow speaking from armor and we learned this new medium could be used against us hegemony not anything they were saying that after a video you can prove her a yankee or. a rescuer are not. sure for sure wha

point of view and the propaganda that they wanted people to digest absorb and so the federal communications commission back in one nine hundred forty nine incorporated something called the fairness doctrine the fairness doctrine require radio and t.v. stations to provide coverage to fight only important controversy zero issues and provide a reasonable opportunity for the presentation of contrast and in points you were asked to bring them on you have to give people the opportunity to express an alternative point of view now it was a code that served us well good evening to the administrations of truman eisenhower kennedy johnson nixon ford and carter more generally like. robert reich. and then a real needy america came into power with but i will faithfully execute the ronald reagan was the scene of deregulation of his f.c.c. deregulated t.v. and radio of the one person could own dozens of broadcast ations nationwide and send the free market would provide fairness and broadcasting so they got rid of the fair and stop. anyway back then republicans and democrats passed a bill to reinstate the fairness doc

[applause] a look at the federal communications commission as the two commissioners prepared to join the agency that regulates communications by radio, television, phones, satellite and cable and overseas aspects of the internet. >> for the first time in nearly a year the federal communications commission will have a full complement of commissioners they were finally confirmed by the senate this week. the nomination hearing was held last november. the chairman of the senate commerce committee, senator jay rockefeller had this to say. >> these are huge nominations come and they have a fast effect on the future of the country for better or for worse. i think it's hard to overstate the importance of this federal communications commission and its reach. >> here to discuss the nominations and the confirmations of the two fcc commissioners are two very well-known technology reporters, cecilia come amy shots with the "wall street journal." amy schatz, senator rockefeller seemed to hit this part of this was important and these nominations were important. what was his goal with that? >> welco

i don't want to destroy the federal communications commission and create something else. that having been said, i think we need to think about, you know, what is the right role for the federal communications commission, and, you know, what authority should it be operating under? >> what about international regulation given the worldwideness of the net? >> well, i mean, we don't do a particularly great job of international regulation of anything, you know, from international slave, you know the trafficking of humans and all that sort of stuff. i don't think most people are comfortable, for example, like the u.n. regulating the internet. i think a lot of people sort of old internet hands are happy with the sort of nongovernmental organizations that have done this in the past, but i think there are real questions about whether or not they scale, and all of the current sort of, you know, if you said k okay, what's international agency would do this, the itu? all you have to do is say that in an industry forum among people who understand working what the tiu is like, and there'

the bill does just that, prohibits the federal communications commission from unnecessarily regulating broadband rates. this legislation ensures that not only the current commission but future commissions do not have the option to regulate broadband internet rates. protecting the free market and encouraging competition and promoting jobs. that's what we need to be all about. plain and simple, un-elected washington bureaucrats at the f.c.c. have set out with another solution in search of a problem. by shifting the classification of broadband internet to be a title 2 common carrier, the f.c.c. is simply reclassifying broadband internet to fall under their rule making purview. this is nothing more than another power grab by the administration to regulate and control yet another strifment it is i--- industry. it is estimated that if rules regulating broadband services are carried out, it could cost over 43,000 jobs. i think we could all agree, it is not time to gamble with american jobs. when bureaucrats in washington play the regulation game, no one wins. i'm a proud co-sponsor of h.r. 26

it is also important to recognize the role that the federal communications commission has played in this technological revolution. when it prioritizes competition and innovation, the fcc allows the private sector to deliver a rapid communication services at reasonable prices, that is the charge the government gave them in 1934. speaking of 1934, the newspaper. from the very first commissioner to be appointed to the fcc. the title refer to them as "rulers of the air." my ambition would be far more modest. i would not bring an ideological mission to the agency. i would not hold. it is for it against any company or technology. -- i would not hold any prejudice against the company or technology. i would stay within the bounds of the authority as set forth by congress. i would work with others to come up to solutions carefully calibrated to solve common problems. my decision making process would incorporate and reflect a respect for others outside the agency. i would seek to build a collaborative relationship with congress including the members of this committee. i would consult with the priv

closely with the other agencies that help support broadband build out including the federal communications commission. the rural utility service loan

. >> now, i'd like to introduce you to our opening speaker, federal communications commission acting chairwoman, jessica rosenworcel. fcc chairman rosenworcel works to promote greater opportunity, accessibility and affordability in our communications services in order to ensure that all americans get a fair shot at 21st century success. from fighting to protect net neutrality, to ensuring access to the internet for students caught in the homework gap, she has been a consistent champion for connecting all. she is a leader in spectrum policy and is responsible for developing policies to help expand the reach of broadband to schools, libraries, hospitals, and households across the country. as acting chairwoman. she has continued to be a fierce advocate on consumer protection issues, most notably taking swift action to improve the agency's ability to combat unwanted robo calls. acting chairwoman rosenworcel bring the communications and public service to the sec. prior to joining the agency. she served as senior communications counsel for the united states senate, committee on commerce, s

the media protects the public funds and clear ways are considered the property of the federal communications commission charged with the responsibility of protecting the people before the f.c.c. decided broadcasters needed to be licensed the licenses were free of charge but there was a catch t.v. and radio owners had to serve the public if they did not people could challenge their sizes and the f.c.c. could take them away. and the f.c.c. understood that radio and t.v. it should be owned locally so they passed strict rules limiting the number of stations any one person can elevate in the current year to stay cuckold a six hour break n.b.c. . game came for. and radio became a lifeline. the president of. the information we were getting was vital he only that it's a date which will live. in infamy important to our national security important to our democracy our earth is that right moral speaking from iraq and we learned this new media could be used against itself cannot they are. made yes ok through her yet he her or. her. or her for her for what they did of course of those fascist regimes was just broadc

>> federal communications commission chairman ajit pai yesterday an announced new plans to reverse net neutrality rules instituted during the obama administration. those old rules prevented internet service providers from blocking or slowing down some websites but not others. the fcc chairman said that getting rid of those rules would help expand high speed internet access. >> good afternoon, everyone. my name is adam brandon. i am the president of freedomworks. and i want to welcome everyone here. a lot of people are talking today about president trump's first 100 days. and i would suggest that yes, the supreme court's a big deal, but the things the chairman pai are working on potentially will have the longest impact of anything coming out of this administration. that is definitely debatable. so i have been at freedomworks for 12 years and 12 years ago, when i started, this is one of the first issues we worked on. and last year, i was very nervous that we were going in the wrong direction. president obama had passed new regulations on the internet that i had feared would permanently s

federal communications commission to enroll securing an open internet. or so coming up with the rise of an his. laden's dead to invest in the volatile cryptocurrency figuring is still more stable than their highly inflated bolivar. and the push for power in tanzania the east african country needs more electricity but at what cost. base is your business update on helen humphrey. good to have you with us in a total about the us federal communications commission has reversed net neutrality rules championed by former president barack obama they barred providers from blocking or slowing access to content or charging consumers more moves part of u.s. president donald trump's push to scale back regulation in many economic sectors. net's neutrality rules banned internet providers from giving preferential treatment to certain websites after the f.c.c. vote that seems to be a thing of the past. the ending of net neutrality has been met with fury by millions of internet users both online through social media and offline at this protest outside the f.c.c. headquarte

c-span3, the on senate appropriations subcommittee hears from federal communications commission chair on the spectrum auctions program. servicesa house armed subcommittee on military personnel hears from judge advocate generals of the army, navy, air force, and marines on racial disparity and the military justice system. kevin landrigan his bureau chief for the union leader and he joins us from new hampshire. over the past years the granite state has become a battleground state. what has changed? guest: it is interesting. it is quite a contrast. ronald reagan when he ran for reelection in 1984, he declared the most republican state in the country right you could have case,hat state -- that other than the far and nevada perhaps. new hampshire has become more of a swing state because of migration here. we are unusual, in that now fewer people new hampshire were born here. more than 60% of residents are not natives. many come from massachusetts. taxesame to escape higher and more regulation. but particular the on social issues, their progressive. that is what we have seen over the years

"the communicators," a discussion of network management, network neutrality and the federal communications commission and what it's proposed to do with that issue. joining us are mark hamm ericson and scott cleland with net competition.org, ann veigle of communications daily is also joining in the questioning. gentlemen, if you would, just start -- give us a basic 101 on your organization, why it was formed and who are the members of it? mr. erickson? >> guest: sure. well, i'm a washington lawyer who has been asked to assemble a coalition of leading technology companies, internet companies like amazon, google, other stakeholders of consumer groups, civil rights organizations, people that use the internet, small businesses to help advocate before the federal communications commission and other policymakers policies that preserve an open internet. >> guest: yes. and net competition.org was formed about three and a half years ago. it is a pro-competition, more free market-oriented approach, and it is, it represents broadband interests, literally the entire broadband sector, so that would include all the