Genachowski: Broadband Reg Authority Key to Cyber Security, Privacy

Tells Senate Commerce "uncertainties in the regulatory framework" must be resolved

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/27/2010 2:34:36 PM

In testimony for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on online privacy Tuesday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski took the opportunity to put in a plug for clarifying the FCC's broadband regulatory authority.

In his written testimony, a copy of which was supplied to B&C by a third party, Genachowski suggested that effort was important to the privacy and security of the net. "As we move forward on online privacy, cyber security, and other vital issues," he said in summing up his testimony, "it is important that uncertainties in the regulatory framework be resolved."

The chairman is currently collecting input on his proposal to reclassify broadband transmissions as Title II information subject to some of those common carrier rules. That effort is to resolve the regulatory framework uncertainties created by the court decision in the Comcast/BitTorrent case.

The chairman talked about working with the Federal Trade Commission on initiatives to "help inform and empower consumers," as well as on informing consumers about the need to protect wireless home networks. The FCC is looking toward a future in which broadband and other video is seamlessly integrated into home entertainment and information systems.

It is currently collecting info on how to promote that through an all-video set-top gateway.

He also put in a plug for the just-announced FCC online consumer help center, including its "consumer-friendly system for filing complaints."