[A2k] FTC "Net Neutrality" Workshop Feb 13-14 2007

[Seth Johnson]

> http://www.ftc.gov/opp/workshops/broadband/index.html
> http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/12/broadbandworkshop2.htm

---

> http://www.ftc.gov/opp/workshops/broadband/index.html


  Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy


  WHEN

  February 13-14, 2007 9:00 AM -5:00 PM


  WHERE

  FTC Conference Center 601 New Jersey Ave., NW Washington, DC
  20001


  This page links to websites of other organizations. The FTC
  does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on these
  websites or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of
  information on them. Please note that these sites may track
  visitor viewing habits.

  On February 13 and 14, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will
  host a public workshop on "Broadband Connectivity Competition
  Policy." The FTC will bring together experts from business,
  government, and the technology sector, consumer advocates, and
  academics to explore competition and consumer protection issues
  relating to broadband Internet access, including so- called
  "network neutrality." The workshop will explore issues raised
  by recent legal and regulatory determinations that providers of
  certain broadband Internet services, such as cable modem and
  DSL, are not subject to the FCC's common carrier regulations.
  The workshop will examine, for example, the capabilities and
  incentives of broadband Internet service providers to
  discriminate against, degrade, block, or charge fees for
  prioritized delivery of unaffiliated content and applications.
  The workshop will also address the potential effects of network
  neutrality regulation on innovation and competition in the
  market for broadband access.

  All attendees will be required to display a current driver's
  license or other valid form of photo identification. The
  Conference Center is accessible to people with disabilities. If
  you need an accommodation related to a disability, please call
  Gregory P. Luib, 202-326-3249.


  * Press Release (December 7, 2006)
    (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/12/broadbandworkshop2.htm)
  * Agenda (coming soon)
  * Directions to the Conference Center [PDF]
    http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/transportationguide.pdf
  * Hotel information
    (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/hotels.htm)
  * Nearby Restaurants
    (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/restaurant_nj.htm)


  PRE-REGISTRATION

  The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration for
  this workshop is not necessary, but is encouraged, so that we
  may better plan for the event.

  * To pre-register: Email your name and affiliation to
    broadbandprereg@ftc.gov.

  * NOTE: When you pre-register, the FTC collects your name,
    affiliation, and email address. We use this information for
    administration purposes related to the workshop and to
    contact you with information about it. Under the Freedom of
    Information Act (FOIA) or other laws, we may be required to
    disclose the information you provide to outside
    organizations. For additional information, including routine
    uses permitted by the Privacy Act, see the FTC Privacy
    Policy. The FTC Act and other laws the FTC enforces allow the
    collection of this contact information for the purposes
    described above.

  REQUESTING TO BE A PANELIST =97 Deadline: January 15, 2007

  FTC staff will identify and invite individuals with relevant
  expertise to participate as panelists. The staff also may
  invite self-nominees to be workshop panelists. Selected
  panelists will be notified by February 1, 2007.

  * To Nominate Yourself: Email broadbandpanelists@ftc.gov.

  * Requirements:

  - Refer to "Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy Workshop
    - Panelist Request, Project No. V070000" to facilitate the
    organization of panelist requests.

  - Include a statement detailing your expertise on the issues to
    be addressed at the workshop and complete contact
    information.


  FILING A COMMENT =97 Deadline: February 28, 2007

  The Commission invites interested persons to submit written
  comments on issues related to this workshop.

  * To File Electronically: Go to
    https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-broadband. Refer to
    "Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy Workshop -
    Comment, Project No. V070000" to facilitate the organization
    of comments.

  * To File in Paper Form: Include the reference, "Broadband
    Connectivity Competition Policy Workshop =96 Comment, Project
    No. V070000"; both in the text and on the envelope. Mail or
    deliver your comment to the address below by courier or
    overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in
    the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay
    due to heightened security precautions.

  Federal Trade Commission/Office of the Secretary Room H-135
  (Annex B) 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580.

  * To Request Confidential Treatment: You must file in paper
    form and clearly label the first page of the document with
    "Confidential" and comply with Commission Rule 4.9(c).*

  BACKGROUND

  * Remarks, Deborah Platt Majoras, The FTC in the Online World:
    Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers (2006) [PDF]
    (http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/majoras/060821pffaspenfinal.pdf)

  * FTC Statement Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary,
    FTC Jurisdiction Over Broadband Internet Access Services
    (2006)

(http://judiciary.senate.gov/print_testimony.cfm?id=3D1937&wit_id=3D5415)

  * FTC Staff Report, Municipal Provision of Wireless Internet
    (2006) [PDF]

(http://www.ftc.gov/os/2006/10/V060021municipalprovwirelessinternet.pdf)

  * National Cable & Telecommunications Ass'n. v. Brand X
    Internet Services (2005)
    (http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-277.ZO.html)

  * In re Appropriate Framework for Broadband Access to the
    Internet over Wireline Facilities (2005) [PDF]

(http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-150A1.pdf)

  * In re United Power Line Council's Petition for Declaratory
    Ruling Regarding the Classification of Broadband over Power
    Line Internet Access Service as an Information Service (2006)
    [PDF]
(http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-165A1.pdf)

  * In re Madison River Communications, LLC (2005) [PDF]
    (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2005/DA-05-543A2.html)


  * The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for
    confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis
    for the request, and must identify the specific portions of
    the comment to be withheld from the public record. The
    request will be granted or denied by the Commission's General
    Counsel, consistent with applicable law and the public
    interest. See Commission Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c)
    (http://www.ftc.gov/os/1998/04/63fr18819.pdf).

---

> http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/12/broadbandworkshop2.htm


  For Release: December 7, 2006

  FTC to Host Workshop on Broadband Connectivity Competition
  Policy

  The Federal Trade Commission will host a two-day public
  workshop on =93Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy=94 in
  Washington, DC on February 13 and 14, 2007. The workshop will
  bring together experts from business, government, and the
  technology sector, consumer advocates, and academics to explore
  competition and consumer protection issues relating to
  broadband Internet access, including so-called =93network
  neutrality.=94

  The FTC=92s Internet Access Task Force, convened by Chairman
  Deborah Platt Majoras in August 2006, is organizing the
  workshop. The Task Force, led by Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Director
  of the FTC=92s Office of Policy Planning, with participants from
  throughout the agency, seeks to enhance the FTC=92s expertise in
  the area of Internet access. Since Chairman Majoras publicly
  invited interested parties to meet with the Task Force last
  August, it has heard a wide variety of views on the subjects of
  broadband Internet access in general and network neutrality in
  particular.

  The workshop will explore issues raised by recent legal and
  regulatory determinations that providers of certain broadband
  Internet services, such as cable modem and DSL, are not subject
  to the Federal Communications Commission=92s common- carrier
  regulations. In the absence of such regulations, some have
  raised concerns about broadband Internet service providers
  discriminating against, degrading, or blocking users=92 access to
  unaffiliated content and applications. In addition, concerns
  have been raised regarding ISPs and other network operators
  charging providers of unaffiliated content and applications
  fees for prioritized delivery of their products to end users.
  To prevent harm to competition and consumers from these and
  other related types of conduct, some have advocated network
  neutrality regulation that would require equal treatment of all
  Internet traffic.

  In response, opponents of network neutrality have argued that
  such regulation would have adverse consequences for innovation
  and competition in the market for broadband access by, among
  other things, making it more difficult for ISPs and other
  network operators to recoup their investments in broadband
  networks. Opponents also have argued that such regulation is
  unnecessary because: 1) to date there is insufficient evidence
  of harm to competition or consumers to warrant such regulation;
  2) competitive conditions in the market for broadband access
  will protect consumers from the harm anticipated by net
  neutrality proponents; and 3) the antitrust and consumer
  protection laws, as well as FCC oversight, are sufficient to
  address any harms that may arise.

  The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held
  at the FTC=92s satellite building conference center, located at
  601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC Members of the
  public and press who wish to participate but who cannot attend
  can view a live Webcast of the workshop on the FTC=92s Web site.
  For admittance to the conference center, all attendees will be
  required to show a valid form of photo identification, such as
  a driver=92s license. Pre-registration is not necessary, but is
  encouraged. To pre-register, please e-mail your name and
  affiliation to broadbandprereg@ftc.gov.

  The FTC staff will identify and invite individuals with
  relevant expertise to participate as panelists at the workshop.
  The staff also may invite self-nominees to be workshop
  panelists. Panelist applications should be submitted
  electronically to broadbandpanelists@ftc.gov on or before
  January 15, 2007. The FTC asks interested parties to include a
  statement detailing their expertise on the issues to be
  addressed at the workshop and complete contact information.
  Panelists selected to participate will be notified by February
  1, 2007.

  Any person may submit written comments on the topics to be
  addressed at the workshop. Comments must be received on or
  before February 28, 2007. For further information about the
  workshop and for specific information on sending comments, pre-
  registering, participating as a panelist, the workshop agenda,
  and contact information, please consult the FTC Web site at
  http://www.ftc.gov/opp/workshops/broadband/index.html.

  MEDIA CONTACT:

  Claudia Bourne Farrell, Office of Public Affairs 202-326-2181

  STAFF CONTACT:

  Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Office of Policy Planning 202-326-2632

  (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/12/broadbandworkshop2.htm)