How consumers' groups aim to shape telecom policy, part 4

(Part 4 of 4)

Along with Free Press, profiled in part 3 of this series, Public Knowledge is a relative newcomer among telecom consumer groups.

Founded in 2001, Public Knowledge initially focused on intellectual property issues but has since branched out into broadband. With a staff of less than 12, the organization is funded “mostly by foundations” such as the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation, said Art Brodsky, a spokesman for Public Knowledge. The organization also has some individual and corporate contributors, including Google and Verizon.

Public Knowledge is probably best known for helping consumers gain the right to make copies of audio and video recordings, as well as television broadcasts. Today, as Brodsky explained, “We’re active in open Internet issues and stimulus bills.”

The organization was instrumental in getting language included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help ensure that carriers receiving funding would abide by the principles of net neutrality aimed at ensuring what advocates call “an open Internet.” A key goal for Public Knowledge today is to see legislation passed to cement the principles of net neutrality. If passed, such legislation could require carriers to allow consumers to attach any device to their networks and could prevent them from charging customers more for differentiated classes of service.

Public Knowledge also is concerned about consolidation in the telecom market, which has left consumers with fewer choices, Brodsky said. Today, he said, the only choices are the local cable or local phone company.

Asked whether the organization advocates reinstating requirements such as line-sharing and unbundled network element platforms aimed at increasing competition but which incumbent telcos said were unsustainable financially, Brodsky said, “It’s worth talking about.”

So how much influence are consumer groups likely to have on telecom policy under the Obama administration?

Democratic administrations typically are viewed as more consumer friendly, and one industry analyst believes that could give consumer groups more influence on open Internet issues. “The pendulum has swung a bit more toward the net neutrality guys, but they have to be careful how far they take the argument,” said Ronald Gruia, principal analyst for emerging telecoms with consulting firm Frost. If consumer groups are too idealistic, they could lose support, he said, adding that service providers should be able to charge more for faster delivery just as the post office does.

Not everyone believes the previous administration was anti-consumer on telecom issues. “Kevin Martin was more consumer-oriented in some ways than you might have expected from a Republican,” said Rick Joyce, chair of the communications practice for law firm Venable LLC, in a reference to the previous FCC chairman. Joyce cited the example of Martin’s “constant bashing” of the cable industry.

There also may be a limit to how much more of a role consumer groups can play on some telecom issues simply because those issues may not have top priority.

“With so many issues to deal with—such as broadband recovery and digital television--I’ve got to believe those issues will be more important,” said Joyce.