Cable Operators, Associations Concerned About Title II Approach Sought by Obama
Large and mid-sized cable operators and their associations are concerned about the Communications Act Title II broadband reclassification that President Barack Obama sought Monday (see 1411100035), they continued to say in written statements and blog posts. Forbearing from Title II…
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regulations, as that approach would entail, "is Easier Said than Done," said the headline of an NCTA blog post Wednesday. It cited "the history of forbearance petitions." Executive Vice President David Cohen headlined his blog post Tuesday "Surprise!" which he said some would be that Comcast agrees with Obama's principles on net neutrality. "There is one important technical legal difference of opinion between the President and Comcast: we do not support reclassification of broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II," wrote Cohen. "Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act provides more than ample authority to impose those rules." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit's January ruling against FCC net neutrality rules "made clear" that distinction, he said. Time Warner Cable "remains committed to an open Internet, but we disagree with the President’s statement that an open Internet can only be achieved by reclassifying broadband as a public utility," said CEO Rob Marcus in a Monday news release. Comcast has agreed to buy TWC, and some analysts and industry lawyers have speculated that the deal may be less likely to be completed if the FCC takes a Title II approach. Like Obama, Suddenlink backs an open Internet, said CEO Jerry Kent in an emailed statement. "Unfortunately, the President has proposed a 'solution' in search of a problem. There is no blocking of legal content by ISP’s and no paid prioritization with respect to broadband Internet access." Obama's "call for the FCC to impose heavy-handed government regulation under Title II on Internet service providers, like Mediacom, is politically motivated and ill-conceived," said CEO Rocco Commisso Wednesday. Smaller ISPs don't threaten the open Internet, and their subscribers "have long benefited from the government’s light touch in applying regulation to broadband," said American Cable Association CEO Matt Polka Monday. “Common carrier regulation of telephone service crafted in 1934 under President Franklin Roosevelt should not be applied to a thriving, bustling broadband Internet market in 2014 under President Barack Obama."