Video Industry Organization Voices Support for Broadband Deployment and Consumer Choice

    WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last week's video
 franchising order by the FCC was a bold and necessary step in providing
 consumers and new content providers alike with a more competitive and fair
 marketplace for cable television and broadband services. The Video Access
 Alliance commends the FCC and Chairman Kevin Martin for this decision, and
 we are not alone. Below are the words of just a few of the organizations
 representing a broad spectrum of constituencies and interests that support
 this action.
     What people are saying ...
     "We believe there will be more widespread broadband services as a
 result of the FCC's steps taken recently ... Greater availability of
 broadband service will expand opportunities for persons with disabilities
 such as people who are sign language users who rely on Video Relay Service,
 and for persons with disabilities seeking to move off welfare programs and
 into entrepreneurship activities."
     -- Jenifer Simpson, senior director of telecommunications and
 technology policy, American Association of People with Disabilities
     http://www.aapd.com/News/telecomm/070305aapd.htm
     "Chairman Martin's agenda for 2007 focuses on exactly the right issues
 ... Increased broadband deployment is one of the greatest challenges facing
 policymakers and the technology industry and it's critical we take steps to
 get regulatory barriers out of the way, so innovators can innovate and
 entrepreneurs can deliver more value to consumers."
     -- Bruce Mehlman, co-chairman, Internet Innovation Alliance
     "The Commission's decision will accelerate build out of broadband
 networks across America and will save American consumers billions of
 dollars."
     -- Larry Irving, co-chairman, Internet Innovation Alliance
 
     http://www.internetinnovation.org/cgi-data/news/files/47.shtml
     "We enthusiastically support the FCC's effort to fix the outdated and
 anti-competitive video franchising process ... This Order will help speed
 up the process of bringing consumers more choice, lower rates, and access
 to much higher-speed broadband networks ... The more fiber that is
 deployed, the more choices consumers will have in their home entertainment.
 It's that simple ... And, given fiber's huge bandwidth advantages, today's
 FCC Order paves the way for a faster rollout of next-generation broadband
 throughout the country."
     -- Joe Savage, president, Fiber-to-the-Home Council
     http://www.legendconferences.com/FTTHCouncil/01FCC_Video_Franchise_Orde
 r.pdf
     "Americans with disabilities have been eagerly awaiting the widespread
 appearance of affordable and accessible broadband services ... It matters a
 lot to us at the NAD and the American deaf community that broadband
 technologies come sooner, rather than later. It matters that new services
 are also affordable and accessible. And it matters a lot that broadband
 networks and their new interactive applications are widely available
 everywhere in America."
     -- Nancy J. Bloch, chief executive officer, National Association of the
 Deaf
     "This decision is a breakthrough victory for consumers and industry,
 one that removes unreasonable barriers for broadband providers to enter new
 markets ... The ruling will speed up investment in broadband and video
 deployment in new markets, meaning consumers will soon enjoy more choices
 in broadband services. The order truly creates a win-win situation."
     -- Dorothy Coleman, vice president of Tax and Domestic Economic Policy,
 National Association of Manufacturers
     http://www.nam.org/s_nam/doc1.asp?CID=67&DID=238378
     "The Alliance for Public Technology commends the Federal Communications
 Commission's decision to streamline the video franchising process ... While
 legislative action may be needed to fully reach the goals set out by the
 Commission, this order will help to expand investments in broadband
 infrastructure and create more ubiquitous consumer access."
     -- Robert Atkinson, chair, Public Policy Committee, Alliance for Public
 Technology
     http://www.apt.org/news/apt-press-releases/2007/PR_030507_videocomp.htm
 l
     CONTACT: Julia Johnson, 800-539-1470
 
 

SOURCE Video Access Alliance