Press

Public Knowledge Praises Eshoo/Issa Support For White Spaces
February 9, 2012

Background:  Today, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) along with 40 of their colleagues sent a letter to the House and Senate negotiators on the payroll tax bill supporting the use of unlicensed spectrum in any discussions.

 

The letter is here.

 

The following statement is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director of Public Knowledge:

 

"Rep. Eshoo and Chairman Issa and their colleagues have made a persuasive case for making certain that unlicensed spectrum is included in any larger spectrum agreements used to pay for the extension of payroll tax relief.

 

70 Groups Ask Congress to Halt Work On SOPA and PIPA
February 6, 2012

Approximately 70 grass-roots groups, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, human rights groups, communities of color, and Internet companies today said Congress should stop its work on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA).

The letter, coordinated by Public Knowledge, said, “Now is the time for Congress to take a breath, step back, and approach the issues from a fresh perspective.”  The text of the letter is here.

Public Knowledge Pleased With Kohl Plan For Hearing on Verizon/Cable Deal
February 1, 2012

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director for Public Knowledge:

“Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl's statement this morning that he intends to hold a hearing on the complicated Verizon deal with the leading cable companies is most welcome.

"We are very pleased that he is doing so.  Even without the agreements between Verizon, Comcast, and the other cable operators to resell each other's services, this transaction would raise serious concerns about spectrum aggregation and the future wireless competition. But when, in addition, competitors become resellers of each others services, those charged with protecting consumers and promoting competition have a duty to take a very careful look.

Public Knowledge Calls AT&T Spectrum Statements ‘Unfortunate’
January 26, 2012

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director for Public Knowledge:

 

“It is unfortunate that AT&T Chairman Randall Stephenson still believes that buying out the wireless industry is the only way to improve his company’s spectrum efficiency.

 

“His comment in this morning’s earnings call that the FCC has made it clear the agency won’t allow acquisitions as a means of increasing spectrum holdings is inappropriate for two reasons. The failed acquisition of T-Mobile would have had far wider implications than simply a spectrum acquisition. It is unfortunate that AT&T thinks that the only way it can increase its spectrum holdings is to purchase a competitor.  Using its current holdings more efficiently would also go a long way to relieving the company’s purported spectrum shortage. In addition, the Commission did allow AT&T to purchase spectrum from Qualcomm. 

 

Public Knowledge Advises Movie Lobby To Stop Threatening Politicians
January 20, 2012

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director of Public Knowledge:

“As support for the movie industry’s legislation has faded away over the past two days, the motion picture lobby has introduced an unfortunate tone into the discussions.  Not only has the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) accused Web sites of abusing their freedom of speech by going dark of Internet Blackout Day to demonstrate opposition to misguided legislation, now it is threatening political figures.

“It has been reported in several outlets from the Los Angeles Times to Deadline to Fox News that MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd is threatening to cut off campaign funds from President Obama and perhaps others because of their opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA).

Public Knowledge To Congress: Start Over On Intellectual Property Bills
January 20, 2012

The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director of Public Knowledge:

“Everyone should be pleased that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has decided not to go ahead with a vote on the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) on Tuesday.

“At the same time, this is a wake-up call for Congress to abandon business as usual.  Simply tinkering with the details of this bill, or of its House companion, is not the way to go.  Neither is a ‘summit’ between the Big Media companies and tech companies.

Public Knowledge Commends Verizon and Comcast For Filing Deal Details – Yet Questions Remain
January 19, 2012

The following statement is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director for Public Knowledge:

 

“We are pleased that Verizon and Comcast with its cable partners filed material today with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) explaining the details of their joint marketing and technical arrangements.

 

“This voluntary filing will eliminate a controversy that surely would have taken place had they not done so.

 

“At the same time, no one should accept the companies’ claim that the arrangement are outside of the FCC’s jurisdiction.  They clearly are.  We expect the Commission to evaluate these arrangements in the context of the spectrum deal to determine how the entire transaction will affect competition and the public interest.”

 

 

Public Knowledge Joins Eight Others Asking For Details On Verizon-Comcast Deal
January 19, 2012

Public Knowledge was one of a group of organizations and companies which yesterday asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require Verizon and Comcast to file more details about their proposed new business arrangements.

The letter is here.  

Verizon has agreed to pay $3.6 billion to several cable companies, led by Comcast, for spectrum those companies hold but have not developed.  In addition, there are agreements for Verizon to market cable products and to work together to develop new technology.

Public Knowledge Urges Further Consideration For Intellectual Property Legislation
January 17, 2012

 

 The following statement is attributed to Sherwin Siy, deputy legal director for Public Knowledge:

 “We were disappointed to learn the Chairman Smith said he would resume Judiciary Committee consideration of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in February.

 “It would be better for the Committee to take some time and arrive at a consensus approach to resolving the issues in SOPA that have resulted in nation-wide protests, rather than to force through a bill on which there is widespread disagreement.

 “While we eagerly await a new version of the bill, it is clear that simply tinkering around the edges will not make this legislation acceptable.”

 Note: Chairman Smith's announcement is here.

 

Public Knowledge Defends FCC Auction Practices
January 16, 2012

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and AT&T in recent days have issued statements criticizing the Federal Communications Commission's conduct of spectrum auctions.

Chairman Upton's statement is here.

AT&T's is here.



The following statement is attributed to Harold Feld, legal director of Public Knowledge:

"It is truly unfortunate that the spectrum auction authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is under attack from powerful members of Congress and from a major telecommunications company.