Cisco, Intel Proclaim Title II Would Crush Sector 'Innovation' Cisco, Intel, IBM and more than a dozen other ISP industry hardware vendors have sent a letter (pdf) to the FCC and Department of Commerce urging them to avoid reclassifying ISPs under Title II, insisting that doing so would stifle innovation and investment in the broadband sector. Title II classification -- with forbearance applied to keep the FCC in check -- is something consumer advocates argue is the only sensible way forward if consumers are to be protected, particularly on the net neutrality front. Obviously most of the letter's signees profit from selling the intelligent network gear used in all forms of network management, good and bad. The companies insist that the current broadband market with "hands off" regulation has been an "unqualified success." "Because Title II allows for so little flexibility and innovation, it would undercut substantially the broadband providers’ incentives to make the investments necessary to fund network deployments and upgrades," states the letter. That may be a surprise to the wireless industry, where carriers are classified under Title II, yet has seen unprecedented innovation and investment in the last decade. Verizon's FiOS service is also often classified under Title II, at least when there's tax benefits to be had -- with no issues for companies or consumers. Groups like the EFF argue that Title II reclassification with forbearance is the only way to protect consumes from "quasi-monopolistic industry power." Assn Title II Letter FINAL







News Jump California Defends Its Net Neutrality Law; AT&T's Traffic Up 20% Despite Data Traffic Actually Being Down; + more news Are The Comcast-Charter X1 Talks Dead In The Water?; AT&T May Offer Phone Plans With Ads For Discounts; + more news Europe's Top Court: Net Neutrality Rules Bar Zero Rating; ViacomCBS To Rebrand CBS All Access As Paramount+; + more news Verizon To Buy Reseller TracFone For $7B; 5G Not The Competitive Threat To Cable Many Thought It Would Be; + more news MS.Wants Records From AT&T On $300M Project; Google Fiber Outages In Austin, Houston, Other Texan Cities; + more news States With The Biggest Decreases In Speed; AT&T Hopes You'll Forget Its Fight Against Accurate Maps; + more news AT&T's CEO Has A Familiar $olution To US Broadband Woes; EarthLink Files Suit Against Charter; + more news 5G Doesn't Live Up To Hype, AT&T's 5G Slower Than Its 4G; Cord-Cutting Now In 37% of Broadband Households; + more news FCC Cited False Broadband Data Despite Warnings; ZTE, Huawei Replacement Cost Is $1.87B, But Only $1B Allocated; + more Cogeco Rejects Altice USA's Atlantic Broadband Bid; AT&T Is Astroturfing The FCC In Support Of Trump Attack; + more news ---------------------- this week last week most discussed

Most recommended from 129 comments



pumpkinhead7

join:2002-06-14

Clarksburg, WV 6 recommendations pumpkinhead7 Member Cry me a river What they are saying is "When things started we were able to do some cool stuff without government oversight, but now we are greedy and screwing customers to the point where the customers are demanding change. Please don't make us stop" Nobbie16

join:2000-09-28

Jersey City, NJ 4 recommendations Nobbie16 Member Hogwash! How in tarnation will Title II stifle innovation? I mean seriously, the same customers will be there as they are today, the same internet will be there, MORE data will be passed. Just how is this gonna change anything, except how these companies can nickle and dime customers with every trick in the book.



What they are really afraid of is being heavily scrutinized and the government setting some hard and fast standards and practices which they HAVE to adhere to. As we've seen so far, self regulation has only one objective in mind, to screw the customer as much as they can. Just ask current day customers.

PamelaTS

Digital Chick

join:2004-04-20

Dallas, TX Asus RT-AC66

HTC 5G Hub

3 recommendations PamelaTS Member What a load of... What a load of.... This is ridiculous, the LD (long distance) telephony industry thrived on innovation after divestiture under Title II. Innovation was the engine that drove expansion, competition and lower prices. Long distance rates after divestiture literally shriveled up, today just about any calling plan including POTS (plain old telephone service) includes unlimited LD in the contiguous 48 states. It didn't mean the end of the NPA (national plan areacode) the world didn't come to an end, innovation wasn't stifled. Innovation was pumped!



It will happen again! Title II is the pathway to jobs and consumer protection.

bigballer

@205.214.216.x 2 recommendations bigballer Anon uh.... what innovation???? mob (banned)

On the next level..

join:2000-10-07

San Jose, CA 2 recommendations mob (banned) Member Basically what they are saying is.... Don't touch our cash cow.