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 STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  KEVIN  J.  MARTIN 
 Re:  United  Power  Line  Council’s  Petition  for  Declaratory  Ruling  Regarding  the  Classification  of  Broadband  over  Power  Line  Internet  Access  Service  as  an  Information 
 Service,  WC  Docket  No.  06-  10 
 With  today’s  order  the  Commission  takes  another  important  step  to  promote  the  deployment  of  broadband  infrastructure.  Specifically,  by  finding  that  broadband  over 
 power  line  (BPL)  Internet  access  services  are  information  services,  the  Commission  provides  the  regulatory  certainty  necessary  to  foster  competition  between  different 
 broadband  platform  providers.  I  believe  that  it  is  the  Commission’s  responsibility  to  help  ensure  technological  and  competitive  neutrality  in  communications  markets. 
 Accordingly,  I  believe  that  all  providers  of  the  same  service  must  be  treated  in  the  same  manner  regardless  of  the  technology  that  they  employ.  I  am  therefore  pleased  that  the 
 Commission  has  recognized  that  Internet  access  services  provided  over  broadband  power  lines,  like  those  provided  over  cable  plant  and  wireline  facilities,  are  information 
 services. 
 The  Commission’s  broadband  statistics  show  that  subscribers  to  BPL  Internet  access  services,  although  few  in  number  overall,  increased  by  nearly  200%  in  2005.  These 
 services  hold  great  promise  for  consumers.  It  is,  therefore,  critical  that  the  Commission  take  appropriate  action  to  foster  their  development.  Just  a  few  months  ago,  we  took 
 action  to  clarify  our  technical  rules  pertaining  to  BPL  service.  And,  today,  we  clarify  their  legal  status.  It  is  my  hope  that  these  actions  will  promote  the  growth  and 
 competitiveness  of  this  service.  By  encouraging  the  development  of  new  technologies,  such  as  BPL,  we  can  best  achieve  the  President’s  goal  of  universal  broadband  by  the  end 
 of  2007. 
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