Consumer groups ask lawmakers to press broadband access issue

by Jennifer Jones

From...

February 17, 2000
Web posted at: 1:25 p.m. EST (1825 GMT)

(IDG) -- Fed up with AOL's waffling on the issue of open access and AT&T's delay in welcoming competing ISPs to its cable franchises, four industry groups are lobbying Congress to intervene on the issue.

Four consumer groups on Wednesday petitioned two key lawmakers to prod the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to become more active in fostering ISP competition in the cable industry.

Specifically the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Michigan Citizen Action and Massachusetts Consumers' Coalition penned a letter to U.S. Representatives John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

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"We urge you to step up your oversight over the FCC and to press the [House Commerce] Committee to hold hearings on the agency's failure to promote open, non-discriminatory broadband networks," reads the letter.

The groups detailed the escalating open access debate, highlighting AOL's perceived change of heart on the role FCC should play in guaranteeing ISP competition.

"Overnight, with its acquisition of Time Warner, AOL went from being a vigorous proponent of public policy to ensure open access to claiming that commercial interests alone should be allowed to define access to the broadband Internet," said the letter.

The letter also takes exception with AT&T's reported plans to allow only five or six hefty ISPs to use its platform to reach consumers.

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AT&T
Consumer Federation of America
Consumers Union
Michigan Citizen Action
Massachusetts Consumers' Coalition

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