Press Release
New Report Separates Fact from Fiction in Net Neutrality Debate
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- In a new report released today, Free Press, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America debunk a dozen industry myths and call on Congress to protect the public interest by passing meaningful, enforceable protections for Network Neutrality.
"The interests of American consumers have been drowned out by a noisy industry propaganda campaign that surely ranks among the most expensive in telecom policy history," said Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America. "In a debate where the facts are against them, the phone companies and their hired guns have every incentive to hide behind slogans and propaganda. But no amount of lobbying dollars or ad buys can purchase the truth."
The report comes as both chambers of Congress consider bipartisan legislation supporting Network Neutrality. Today, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up the "Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006" (H.R. 5417), sponsored by Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.). Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hold a hearing today on Network Neutrality as part of a major rewrite of the nation's telecommunications laws.
"The issue of Network Neutrality is about who will control the future of the Internet," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, who will testify on behalf of the consumer groups at the Senate hearing. "Will a handful of phone and cable behemoths dominate an anti-competitive marketplace and do away with the Internet as we know it? Or will consumers, content creators, educators and small businesses continue to enjoy a free, open and competitive Internet? Every major consumer organization in the country is committed to meaningful, enforceable Network Neutrality."
The new report -- Why Consumers Demand Internet Freedom: Network Neutrality Fact vs. Fiction -- offers a point-by-point rebuttal of each of the major arguments made by opponents of Net Neutrality. Among its findings:
FACT #1: Network Neutrality protections have existed for the entire history of the Internet.
FACT #2: Network discrimination through a "tiered Internet" will severely curtail consumer choice.
FACT #3: Network discrimination will undermine innovation, investment and competition.
FACT #4: Network discrimination will fundamentally alter the consumer's online experience by creating fast and slow lanes for Internet content.
FACT #5: No one gets a "free ride" on the Internet.
FACT #6: Phone companies have received billions of dollars in public subsidies and private incentives to support network build-out.
FACT #7: There is little competition in the broadband market.
FACT #8: Consumers will bear the costs for network infrastructure regardless if there is Network Neutrality.
FACT #9: Investing in increased bandwidth is the most efficient way to solve increased network congestion problems.
FACT #10: Network owners have explicitly stated their intent to build business models based on discrimination.
FACT #11: The COPE Act will not deter discrimination, but it will tie the hands of the FCC from preventing it.
FACT #12: Supporters of Network Neutrality represent a broad, nonpartisan coalition that joins right and left, commercial and noncommercial interests.
Together, Free Press, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America represent hundreds of thousands of individual members, partner with hundreds of local groups, and deliver information and advice about consumer issues week in and week out to millions of Americans. Not a dollar of corporate money funds these efforts.
"The campaign to preserve Net Neutrality is perhaps the most diverse set of public and private interests backing any single issue in Washington today," said Jeannine Kenney, senior policy analyst of Consumers Union. "Hundreds of groups and hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the political spectrum are joining together to save this cornerstone principle of consumer choice and Internet freedom."
The full report is available at www.freepress.net/docs/nn_fact_v_fiction_final.pdf
"The interests of American consumers have been drowned out by a noisy industry propaganda campaign that surely ranks among the most expensive in telecom policy history," said Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America. "In a debate where the facts are against them, the phone companies and their hired guns have every incentive to hide behind slogans and propaganda. But no amount of lobbying dollars or ad buys can purchase the truth."
The report comes as both chambers of Congress consider bipartisan legislation supporting Network Neutrality. Today, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up the "Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006" (H.R. 5417), sponsored by Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.). Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hold a hearing today on Network Neutrality as part of a major rewrite of the nation's telecommunications laws.
"The issue of Network Neutrality is about who will control the future of the Internet," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, who will testify on behalf of the consumer groups at the Senate hearing. "Will a handful of phone and cable behemoths dominate an anti-competitive marketplace and do away with the Internet as we know it? Or will consumers, content creators, educators and small businesses continue to enjoy a free, open and competitive Internet? Every major consumer organization in the country is committed to meaningful, enforceable Network Neutrality."
The new report -- Why Consumers Demand Internet Freedom: Network Neutrality Fact vs. Fiction -- offers a point-by-point rebuttal of each of the major arguments made by opponents of Net Neutrality. Among its findings:
FACT #1: Network Neutrality protections have existed for the entire history of the Internet.
FACT #2: Network discrimination through a "tiered Internet" will severely curtail consumer choice.
FACT #3: Network discrimination will undermine innovation, investment and competition.
FACT #4: Network discrimination will fundamentally alter the consumer's online experience by creating fast and slow lanes for Internet content.
FACT #5: No one gets a "free ride" on the Internet.
FACT #6: Phone companies have received billions of dollars in public subsidies and private incentives to support network build-out.
FACT #7: There is little competition in the broadband market.
FACT #8: Consumers will bear the costs for network infrastructure regardless if there is Network Neutrality.
FACT #9: Investing in increased bandwidth is the most efficient way to solve increased network congestion problems.
FACT #10: Network owners have explicitly stated their intent to build business models based on discrimination.
FACT #11: The COPE Act will not deter discrimination, but it will tie the hands of the FCC from preventing it.
FACT #12: Supporters of Network Neutrality represent a broad, nonpartisan coalition that joins right and left, commercial and noncommercial interests.
Together, Free Press, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America represent hundreds of thousands of individual members, partner with hundreds of local groups, and deliver information and advice about consumer issues week in and week out to millions of Americans. Not a dollar of corporate money funds these efforts.
"The campaign to preserve Net Neutrality is perhaps the most diverse set of public and private interests backing any single issue in Washington today," said Jeannine Kenney, senior policy analyst of Consumers Union. "Hundreds of groups and hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the political spectrum are joining together to save this cornerstone principle of consumer choice and Internet freedom."
The full report is available at www.freepress.net/docs/nn_fact_v_fiction_final.pdf
