Press Release
Public Interest Groups Urge Senate Commerce Committee to Scrutinize Broadband Data Caps
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON –– On Monday, Free Press, Consumers Union, the New America Foundation and Public Knowledge sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee urging it to consider the usage of punitive data caps by broadband providers. The committee is holding a hearing on online video on Tuesday, April 24.
For a copy of the letter go to http://www.freepress.net/resource/letter-senate-commerce-committee-impact-data-caps-online-video.
In addition to the letter, Public Knowledge also released a report on data caps and usage-based pricing that raises questions on how data caps impact broadband adoption, education and innovation.
Free Press Policy Adviser Joel Kelsey made the following statement:
"There have been rapid changes in the market for online video, and the Senate Commerce Committee has a good opportunity on Tuesday to explore how these changes are benefiting consumers by providing more affordable choices. However, the bold new world of streaming video is on a collision course with punitive and unnecessary monthly data caps that restrict broadband use. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that broadband providers are using monthly caps not as a method for managing congestion, but as an attempt to punish subscribers seeking to view their video programming online rather than through a cable subscription.
“In addition to specifically discouraging online video use, placing artificial and unjustified meters on consumers discourages the use of broadband generally. We urge the Commerce Committee to use Tuesday’s hearing as an opportunity to take a closer look at the justification for data caps in the Internet ecosystem, and their impact on innovation and consumer broadband use."
For a copy of the letter go to http://www.freepress.net/resource/letter-senate-commerce-committee-impact-data-caps-online-video.
In addition to the letter, Public Knowledge also released a report on data caps and usage-based pricing that raises questions on how data caps impact broadband adoption, education and innovation.
Free Press Policy Adviser Joel Kelsey made the following statement:
"There have been rapid changes in the market for online video, and the Senate Commerce Committee has a good opportunity on Tuesday to explore how these changes are benefiting consumers by providing more affordable choices. However, the bold new world of streaming video is on a collision course with punitive and unnecessary monthly data caps that restrict broadband use. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that broadband providers are using monthly caps not as a method for managing congestion, but as an attempt to punish subscribers seeking to view their video programming online rather than through a cable subscription.
“In addition to specifically discouraging online video use, placing artificial and unjustified meters on consumers discourages the use of broadband generally. We urge the Commerce Committee to use Tuesday’s hearing as an opportunity to take a closer look at the justification for data caps in the Internet ecosystem, and their impact on innovation and consumer broadband use."
