FCC chairman Tom Wheeler courted broadcasters’ support for the FCC’s Open Internet rules in his keynote address to the National Assn. of Broadcasters Wednesday, comparing the government’s plans with “must carry” rules broadcasters have advocated and supported.
“Broadcasters have always been concerned about gatekeepers. The must carry rules are a manifestation of that concern. It was that kind of sensitivity that has led us to focus on maintaining an open Internet,” said Wheeler. “The Open Internet order safeguards an increasingly important distribution channel for your most important product – local news and information. It assures that your use of the Internet will be free from the risk of discrimination or hold up by a gatekeeper. Again, I liken this to the concept behind must carry – updated for the 21st century.”
Continuing, Wheeler effectively played the cable card, hinting that if control of the Internet were left to the Internet Service Providers — typically the cable companies the broadcasters count as bitter rivals — they might find themselves shut out.
“Your goals as an important and innovative public service provider and our Open Internet goals are the same: when you want to offer something over the Internet, no one should stand in your way,” he said. “Least of all, no one should stand between you and the consumers who will benefit from your service. I believe, by the way, this is equally applicable for both radio and television.”
Wheeler’s speech, combined with Smith’s State of the Industry address on Monday, seems to signal a détente in the sometimes tense relationship between the FCC and the NAB. Wheeler’s praise of broadcasters’ public service role and importance to local communities could have been lifted from one of Smith’s addresses, while Smith’s show opening keynote Monday was less combative toward the FCC than in years past. Wheeler’s comment that “Broadcasting is an important part of our future just as it has been an indispensable part of our past.” mirrored Smith’s theme in that speech.
