Verizon Statement on FCC’s Comcast Decision

he following is a statement by Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications, on the Federal Communications Commission’s vote today on the complaint by third-party organizations against Comcast for allegedly degrading peer-to-peer applications on its network:

"Consumers want a quality Internet experience. That requires a combination of industry investment, innovation and self-governance along with appropriate government oversight to shine the light on any potential problems with individual practices or providers.

"Without making a judgment on the substance of today’s ruling, it is clear that the Federal Communication Commission is prepared to uphold its broadband principles. Now the entire industry should redouble its efforts to set standards for transparency and ensure that consumers know what they are getting when purchasing access or using applications. And we should get ahead of the curve in developing and adopting sound network-management practices as new services emerge.

“With both the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) engaged in oversight of Internet usage and practices, new legislation and more regulation, with all their unintended consequences, are not needed.”