Text | Word97 | Chairman Kennard's Remarks

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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 1999

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Paris at (202) 418-7121

CHAIRMAN KENNARD CALLS ON CABLE FRANCHISING AUTHORITIES TO PROMOTE NATIONAL BROADBAND POLICY; VOWS CONTINUED CONSUMER PROTECTION


William E. Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), predicted chaos if the country's 30,000 local cable franchising authorities decided the technical standards for high-speed Internet access and cable television systems, known as broadband. In his first public statement on the issue after the Portland court decision, Chairman Kennard said, "The market would be rocked with uncertainty; investment would be stymied; consumers would be hurt."

Kennard also mentioned he was surprised that no one had filed a Petition for Declaratory Relief with the FCC. He called on local authorities to work with federal officials to craft a national broadband policy. He made these remarks in a breakfast meeting at the annual convention of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) in Chicago.

He envisioned a day when every home in American would have access to multiple broadband pipes - satellite, third-generation wireless, fixed wireless, telephone, cable or overbuild networks. "Multiple pipes is no pipe dream," he said.

He said that the best way to serve consumers is to create incentives for industry to build broadband networks.

"Today," he said, "we don't have a duopoly, we don't have a monopoly, we have a no-opoly." Chairman Kennard said he would take AT&T Chief Michael Armstrong at his word that AT&T is committed to the open tradition of the Internet. However, Chairman Kennard noted, the FCC will remain vigilant in its commitment to consumer protection. He asked that anyone knowing of specific instances of consumer harm bring them to the FCC's attention.

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