(Silver Spring, MD) At the Freedom-to-Connect (F2C) conference held here today, former FCC Chairman Michael Powell held forth like a very wise Washington insider, offering a number of realpolitik observations to the mostly pro-regulatory crowd populated by net neutrality advocates seeking government intervention. But he also offered some well-backed views on the state of broadband competition and where policy should be headed.
Powell clearly thinks that competition is better than government regulation, not a surprise to old FCC hands. “I’d like to see government dedicate more of its energy and noise to driving competitive platforms,” he said. “If we’re going to get the Star Trek world I dream of [i.e. a versatile “communicator” that works everywhere], that third pipe has to be in place.”
“We believe magical things happen at three,” Powell said, reflecting on his roots as an antitrust attorney. “If you don’t ultimately get multiple platforms for distribution competition you run the risk of collapsing into the 100-year old monopoly model.”
Powell warned the attendees to be skeptical of what they wish for in terms of legislative or regulatory solutions to the net neutrality fears. “I’m worried about what’s going on. I’m worried about putting your faith in the governmental oversight process,” he said.
“Be careful of inviting the legislative process because the secondary consequences of their [Congress’] actions can be enormous,” he said. “Government has a way of turning on people.”
Moreover, phone companies and cable companies are potent foes in the policy arena. “Be careful because you’re playing their game. Regulatory battles are an art form and these guys are maestros.”
Powell also took a swipe at the Broadband Policy Statement issued under his successor’s regime, a statement that the Barton bill wants to codify into law. “When an Internet concept has a footnote attached to it that refers back to the Telecom Act, you’ve got a problem,” he said.
Cynthia Brumfield at 6:44 PM|Comments(3)
Paulaner -- you're right on two counts: we need flexibility and we don't need government intervention. And to drive the next generation of innovation, the companies who will fund much of the research need to make some money.
Posted by: Darnell Dunwitty at April 6, 2006 2:10 PM
Powell is a wise man to continually maintain his position on this issue. It's too easy to think that the government has the cure to what ails all, but I don't think that is the case with the internet. The free market has been much more capable of promoting growth and innovation than regulation could ever be.
Posted by: pkp646 at April 5, 2006 1:55 PM
I tend to agree with him - we're only going to make true progress in the broadband game if we allow for flexibility in the next generation of technologies. Government regulation just seems to me to be a recipe for long-term disaster - we haven't needed it yet, and there's no reason to ask for it now.
Posted by: Paulaner01 at April 4, 2006 10:44 PM
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