STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER DEBORAH TAYLOR TATE
Re:  Broadband Industry Practices, WC Docket No. 07-52
Today’s item seeks input on how the broadband industry functions, including the 
relationships between broadband providers, content and application providers, and
consumers. We also seek comment on how industry practices regarding the management 
of broadband data affect the deployment of broadband and innovation in the development 
of content, applications and network equipment that are all crucial to enhancing the value
of broadband to consumers.  It is essential that we, as the expert agency, carefully 
evaluate what is taking place in today’s broadband marketplace to ensure that America 
remains a leader in an increasingly global economy. We must also employ our regulatory 
humility to recognize that imposing any new strictures on a blossoming industry could 
have significant and lasting stifling effects on the growth of broadband – and our overall 
economy.
The debate over broadband network practices has been percolating under several 
names in recent years – “net freedoms,” “connectivity principles,” “Internet policy,” and, 
of course, “net neutrality.”  Whatever one chooses to call it, I prefer to try to view this 
issue from the perspective of consumers.  The previous Commission did so in its Policy 
Statement and I hope it will continue to do so.  While it remains important for us to 
understand the industry structure and the relationships between each of the different 
elements in the market, we must ensure that our policies promote, not deter, investment, 
innovation, and new entry in networks, products, and services that will help America 
remain competitive in the increasingly global economy.
As I have stated previously, I am skeptical of the present need to impose new rules, 
or even principles.  In many ways, I think this issue has focused too much on the need to 
define a cure before there has been a disease, or even a high fever.  That is why I am 
pleased that today’s item signifies two important Commission ideals as we move further 
along into the broadband era:  a willingness to engage with consumers and industry to 
discover exactly how the marketplace is functioning; and the humility to recognize the 
gravity of our actions.  Accordingly, I support today’s measured step of seeking more 
information about what is going on in the marketplace – what companies and consumers 
are experiencing, or not able to experience.