By Peter Kaplan
Communications Commission
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told a technology industry
conference near San Diego that the commission heeded the views
of technology industry companies in recent decisions.
"I think you've seen the commission, since I've become
chairman, take some dramatic steps across all platforms in
trying to preserve the ability for entrepreneurs to innovate,"
Martin said in an interview with Reuters after appearing at the
conference.
At the conference, Martin cited among other things the
FCC's decision to impose an open-platform requirement on part
of the valuable wireless spectrum the government auctioned off
earlier this year.
At the urging of technology companies, such as Google Inc,
the FCC required the winner of one block of spectrum to make it
an "open platform" accessible to customers using any device or
software application.
The winner of that block of airwaves, Verizon Wireless, has
promised to support devices and software applications that it
does not offer directly itself.
Verizon Wireless is a venture of Verizon Communications Inc
and Vodafone Group Plc.
Martin said the requirement also prompted other wireless
carriers to take steps to open up their wireless networks as
well.
Martin also said the commission was moving to address
concerns that the restrictions imposed by cable operators and
other broadband networks would create a "bottleneck" that could
restrict new Internet services.
The FCC is investigating complaints from consumer groups
that Comcast violated FCC open-network principles by
unreasonably hindered file-sharing services.
"I agree with (technology companies) that we want to make
sure the networks don't become bottlenecks to innovation, and
bottlenecks to entrepreneurs (and) consumers from getting the
next generation of (online) services, applications or content,"
Martin said after the conference.
(Editing by Louise Heavens)
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