Thomas Bliley Published in New York Times on FCC, Cable, and Competition Issues

Thomas Bliley had a letter to the editor of the New York Times published; the letter focused on FCC, Cable, and Competition issues, and is below:

The F.C.C., Cable and Competition
Published: November 3, 2007
Re "F.C.C. Set to End Sole Cable Deals for Apartments" (front page, Oct. 29):

As a principal author of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, I am all in favor of the competition that may result from F.C.C. action in this area. What the article misses, however, is the irony in the F.C.C.'s action.

At the same time it apparently wants to promote competition for our television service, the F.C.C. is seriously considering a death blow to high-speed Internet and other telecommunications services. Verizon, one of the huge beneficiaries of any F.C.C. action on apartment access, has filed a so-called forbearance petition with the F.C.C. seeking relief from any regulation under the 1996 act. That means that Verizon will be able to shut out its competition completely, because it controls the lines that get to business and residential consumers.

A recent study estimates that by granting this petition, the F.C.C. will cost New York consumers nearly $1.4 billion per year - $132 per household.

Tearing down one monopoly while allowing another to be created doesn't make sense. The F.C.C. should be in the business of promoting pro-consumer competition in the entire telecommunications marketplace. That was the promise of the 1996 act.

Tom Bliley
Washington, Oct. 31, 2007
The writer is a former chairman of the House Committee on Commerce.