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Contact: Danielle Yates
dyates@netcaucus.org
202.638.4370
Internet Caucus Panel To Address
VoIP Call-Blocking
Does the FCC Have the Authority to
Create a Rule
Preventing
Internet Packet Discrimination?
What: The Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus (ICAC) will host a panel discussion to look at the policy implications of competitive service blocking on the Internet, to probe whether recent cases were isolated incidents or a sign of things to come. The event, titled "Blocking VoIP Calls: Foreboding Harbinger or Benign Fluke?," will be held Tuesday, April 19 at 9:30 AM in the U.S. Capitol Building. Last month the FCC adopted a consent decree against a telecommunications provider for blocking VoIP phone calls to and from its broadband customers, who were employing a rival VoIP phone service. This situation begs the question: are these issues best addressed by legislation, regulation or on a case-by-case basis? With lawmakers looking into making changes to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the fair and balanced panel will help illuminate the debate over how these issues should be handled.
Who: The Internet Caucus panel will feature: Dan Brenner, National Cable & Telecommunications Association; Jeffrey Citron, CEO, Vonage; James Speta, Associate Professor, Northwestern University Law School; and Timothy Wu, Associate Professor, Virginia Law School. Mr. Citron is the CEO of Vonage, the leading VoIP provider in the marketplace and the filer of the F.C.C. complaint about the blocked VoIP calls. Mr. Speta and Mr. Wu are law and economics professors and have spent years researching whether market forces will spawn or limit this type of discrimination. Mr. Brenner represents the cable industry, which is now the largest provider of residential broadband services.
When: Tuesday, April 19 from 9:30 -- 11 a.m. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Where: Room HC-5 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
RSVP: RSVPs are appreciated for this event. Please RSVP via e-mail to rsvp@netcaucus.org or via phone at 202.638.4370.
Press Welcome.
The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee is a diverse group of public interest, non-profit and industry groups working to educate Congress and the public about important Internet-related policy issues. This event is hosted in conjunction with the Internet Caucus and its co-chairs Ð Senators Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rick Boucher (D-VA), and Wireless Task Force Chair, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA).