About Scott Cleland
![]() |
|
You are hereUniversal BroadbandFCC Respect for Process: What's wrong with this picture?Submitted by Scott Cleland on Thu, 2010-07-08 18:40For an FCC that so assiduously respected the integrity of process to produce a consensus National Broadband Plan just a few short months ago, how could this same FCC come to abuse the integrity of process in its pursuit of Title II net neutrality authority, just a few months later?
How could the same FCC go from the predictable, open, consensus-driven process of developing the National Broadband Plan to the most unpredictable, closed, and non-consensus approach of the Title II net neutrality NOI? How can an FCC, which supposedly heard loud and clear from Congress about the importance of the integrity of process in confirmation hearings held just last year, completely ignore letters to the FCC from a majority of Congress imploring the FCC to respect the Constitutional process that empowers the Congress, not the FCC, with the authority to set communications policy for the Nation? Does not all integrity of process come entirely from respecting the Constitutional processes of separation of powers, due process, rule of law, equal protection, etc.? How can the FCC maintain that they respect the integrity of process with the small "p" of the Adminstrative Procedures Act, when they disrespect the integrity of process with the large "P" of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights? What's wrong with this picture?
FCC Exceptionalism and Supremacy?Submitted by Scott Cleland on Fri, 2010-05-28 16:49Often stepping back to gain perspective and to try and see the forest for the trees, can be highly instructive. However, if one steps back to see the big picture of how this FCC is attempting unilaterally to change U.S. Internet policy, the view is surreal.
Consider the avalanche of input and evidence that the FCC is completely ignoring as it proceeded yesterday with its announced plans to have a preliminary vote June 17th to enable the FCC to officially declare broadband a common carrier regulated service for the first time and to mandate its currently illegal proposed open Internet regulations.
1. Ignoring Congress: A majority of members of Congress now oppose the FCC plan in writing (285 of 535) per the National Journal. Congress tells FCC reclassification is above their paygradeSubmitted by Scott Cleland on Mon, 2010-05-24 18:53Seventy-four House Democrats and thirty-seven Senate Republicans wrote letters (here, here) to the FCC today that essentially told the FCC that their announced plans to deem broadband a common carrier service are over-reaching and out-of-bounds.
In turn, these letters appear to have prompted the Chairmen of the FCC's House and Senate authorizing committees and subcommittees to announce today that they will hold meetings with key stakeholders to discuss updating the Communications Act legislatively -- another strong message to the FCC that Congress makes communications policy, not unelected commissioners at the FCC. The clear political message to the FCC here is that they have wrongly put the cart before the horse, and that they must seek a "solid bi-partisan political foundation" for U.S. broadband policy... before they can achieve their desired "solid legal foundation" for the FCC. NetCompetition.org Press Release on FCC wireless report which advances FCC de-competition policySubmitted by Scott Cleland on Thu, 2010-05-20 14:31FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2010 Contact: Scott Cleland 703-217-2407
Scott Cleland, Chairman NetCompetition.org, on FCC Wireless Report:
Why FCC faces such skepticism on Title II assurancesSubmitted by Scott Cleland on Fri, 2010-05-14 13:55There are many valid reasons why industry is highly skeptical of the FCC's many rhetorical assurances that nothing bad will happen from the FCC's planned regulation of broadband for the first time as a Title II common carrier service. First, in response to the Comcast court decision, the FCC is hastily gambling away the benefits of broadband's proven "solid business foundation," in its longshot bet to win back an unproven "solid legal foundation" for the FCC.
Second, the assertion that there has never been an instance of FCC "un-forbearance," is no assurance, because the FCC has never before reversed an entire sector's regulatory status before either. FCC's Achilles Heel on Broadband Third Way ApproachSubmitted by Scott Cleland on Tue, 2010-05-11 15:28The Achilles heel of the FCC's announced "Third Way Legal Approach" for regulating the Internet is that it is simply not credible. Incredible claim #1: The third way "does not involve regulating the Internet." Debunking that U.S. is falling behind on broadband -- see great Hoewing postSubmitted by Scott Cleland on Tue, 2010-05-11 10:25Kudos to Link Hoewing of Verizon Policy Blog for his excellent post systematically eviscerating New America's Foundation's fact-challenged attempt to argue that the U.S. is falling behind on broadband. Facts are powerful and that's why net neutrality and Title II supporters like New America Foundation and their FreePress/Public Knowledge allies avoid facts like the plague. The facts are overwhelmingly on the side that the U.S. is a world broadband leader.
FCC Understating Systemic Risks of "Third Way" -- Why It's a Disaster Waiting to HappenSubmitted by Scott Cleland on Fri, 2010-05-07 12:13The FCC is vastly understating the systemic risk involved in the FCC's radical "third way" regulatory surgery to the Internet, the communications sector and the economy.
I. Why this "third way" is a disaster waiting to happen: The best way to understand what is going on here is to think of the Internet as a brain and the FCC's "third way" proposal as brain surgery to fundamentally rewire how the Internet brain operates at its most basic level. There's no "Title I 1/2"Submitted by Scott Cleland on Wed, 2010-05-05 22:26FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2010 Contact: Scott Cleland 703-217-2407
“There’s no Title I ½” Why deregulated broadband is in the public interestSubmitted by Scott Cleland on Mon, 2010-05-03 12:46"The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has indicated he wants to keep broadband services deregulated" reports Cecilia Kang of the Washington Post.
Pages |