Net Neutrality and Open Access: FCC Chairman Kevin Martin & Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam

Wall Street Journal - All Things Digital ^ | May 29, 2008 | John Paczkowski

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

Well, this should be interesting. Because of scheduling issues, Kevin Martin and Lowell McAdam will be interviewed at the same time. Will the two hit it off on issues of ‘Net neutrality, early termination fees, Open Access or none of the above?

~ snip ~

Pulling up a chart that showcases the lousy broadband situation in the states, Walt kicks the conversation off with a hardball question for Martin: “You’re the chairman of the FCC,” says Walt. “How did you allow this to happen?” Big applause.

Martin tries to dodge a bit, suggesting that the chart shows penetration. Walt corrects him, noting that what it actually shows are broadband speeds that are abysmal.

Martin says he feels it’s important that we improve both penetration and speed. Walt is not letting him off that easy, jumping back in to point out that not only do broadband speeds in the states stink, but that we also pay as much as four times what people in other countries pay for better, faster broadband.

Martin says we need a new and better definition for broadband. Kara asks about the political side to this issue. Should we treat broadband the same as we treat public highways? Martin says it’s something to consider, adding that we need to switch the system from a voice-grade one to a broadband-grade one. We should be subsidizing ONLY broadband services, not voice. (Hmm. Haven’t we subsidized them enough already? To the tune of $200 billion. See Nothing That a Two-Tiered Internet Couldn’t Fix, Right?)

~ snip ~

[steve-b]

Martin says he feels it’s important that we improve both penetration and speed.

The jokes just write themselves....

[Liberty 275]

Yeah, we really need the government regulating the internet, just like we need nationalized oil and socialized health care.

Wake up america. government is the problem.