Comcast Agrees with FCC’s Broadband Internet Initiative

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We already know that the FCC is going to pitch a 10-year broadband Internet plan to the U.S. Congress and just yesterday we were assuming that major ISPs and wireless carriers might not like all the issues that the Commission will want to address right along the NYT. And who can blame us?

Today we learned that Comcast feels strange about the whole thing. In a post entitled “A “Broadband Battle”? We Should All Be on the Same Side”, Joe Waz, Comcast’s SVP, External Affairs and Public Policy Counsel, argued that Comcast and the FCC are really fighting the same battle. He was apparently surprised to read in the NYT that FCC’s about to be revealed plan will “meet massive resistance from communications companies.”

So here’s basically what Comcast agrees to when it comes to the the FCC’s National Broadband Plan:

• “Digital literacy corps” – “Brilliant idea.”
• Providing broadband Internet “to the remaining corners of America where it’s not economically viable to serve” – “We’re for that, too.
• Faster networks for U.S. customers in the next decade – “We’re on board and we’re doing our part”
• Finding more spectrum for mobile broadband – “It’s long overdue and it needs to be done”
• Better information for consumer when it comes to measuring up Internet broadband performance – “We’re in support of that, too.”

So while Comcast approves almost officially of the Plan that doesn’t mean they will agree with everything the FCC will throw at them. And that’s probably what the NYT article suggested in the first place. A plan that has solutions and ideas for so many issues will surely not be 100% loved by Internet service providers and carriers. But most of the ideas the plan contains are definitely viable solutions for the next ten years as long as there’s space for compromise from both the FCC and these broadband providers.

Joe Waz goes on to say that in case there will be a conflict between the sides:

[...] it should – and will – be focused on accomplishing the things on which we should all be on the same side: promoting more private investment in broadband, getting more Americans connected to broadband, and making the most of broadband as a nation to advance our economy and our society.

What about secret agendas folks? Here’s how this first Comcast response ends:

But as always, there will be some who will continue to put pressure on the FCC to include in the Plan things that would drive us apart. What a shame it would be if they succeeded – there’s too much serious work to be done to let those forces prevail.

Let’s see what everyone else has to say, including the U.S. Congress about the Plan in question.

[Thanks, Simon!]