Transcripts For CSPAN2 The Communicators 20140915

Should do to be on firmer legal ground and pointed to title ii. And, now, weve had fast forward, weve had discussions at the committee about it. This is all about Net Neutrality, obviously. People in our country feel very, very strongly about the internet, in not only how they e it, but how they think about it and the access to it and that it be free and that it be open and that no one, no isp or anyone should be able to interfere with that. Now, there have been a lot of problems, obviously, with court cases, lawsuits, and i think a lot of time, valuable time has been eaten up by that. So now were at a juncture. We know that close to one and a half Million People have commented to the fcc. Its, i think, the single largest response of the American People to any federal agency in the history of our country. Thats really saying something. So ive examined title ii. Now, one of the charges against title ii is that it is the oldfashioned way to regulate. In other words, its a heavy hand. And you really have to be very careful, cautious about heavyhanded regulation because we want innovation. I mean, i represent the Innovation Capital of our country, i think of the world, and we want to keep it that way. And there have been a lot of investments made around this inknow vase as well, so innovation as well, so im very sensitive to the heavy hand of regulation. But i think for certainty, both for consumers, for innovators that you can do a light touch of regulation, i think particularly in section 202. Now, title ii has 47 statutes in it. You dont have to take 47 statutes and throw it at this to cure it. So i would, if i were a member of the fcc, i would examine that section very particularly. Its brief, it gets to the point on blocking discrimination which is the big stumbling block. Thats the one that we have to, you know, we really have to answer for consumers, for innovators. And so i think its not all of title ii, but i think you can find the gold in that particular section. And where thats placed andoihnw they, you know, how they handle it, that is the fcc, there are five smart people there. But i hope that the rhetoric doesnt prevail, that you simply cannot go near title ii because its oldfashioned, heavyhanded regulation. Were legislators, and words really matter. And whats written matters because it walks into peoples lives. So, again, you dont need all of title ii. You need very little of it in order to address blocking which is the most upsetting part of the proposal that the chairman made, and thats whats really caused the ruckus around the country and, i think, legitimately so. So thats what i would look to. Host can you reclassify broadband and not use all of the statutes . Guest i believe so. I believe so. Yeah. This is, this is todays form of communication. Its todays form of communication. When we talk about infrastructure, were not just talking about roads and bridges, were talking about broadband as well. So i think that, you know, our thinking needs to catch up with our words or our actions. And, now, there are some people that will say one sentence out of title ii is not acceptable. Well, i think that thats an uninformed view, most frankly. You have to be a Problem Solver in this. So its not what is at the top of the page, its the language itself that is going to address what i think the American People have spoken very clearly about as a high value that no one is for blocking. You can go, i can go into umpteen town Hall Meetings or my telephone town Hall Meetings. And by the way, as the American People were expressing themselves, they were expressing themselves to the fcc on their wireless device. So this shouldnt be addressed as simply, you know, the old way in terms of landlines. Everything has gone wireless. And so i think our thinking and our legislative language needs to embrace all of that as well. Host and, finally, before we get to Brendan Sasso soft the National Journal, you represent google, facebook, some of the great big players in the tech world but then thousands of upstarts as well. Whats been the reaction to your approaczdraz some of your con constituents . Guest well, i spent a lot of time with them, most particularly the startups. Im proud of the companies that were born in my district, that became toddlers, that grew and are what they are today. I mean, these are brand names around the world, and theyre thinking, and their products are very exciting and have really changed how people live and learn and work. But i think in the United States of america we always have to have policies that encourage new companies to be born. Because thats the creation of jobs. And thats at the top of the list of every american. They want more opportunity, they want more jobs÷m created. And so this is, in doubt in my mind and in the mind of many, that we have to make sure that innovation continues. That innovation comets. Continues. Now, these small startups d7, 9, 11, 17 people, they dont have an army of lawyers, and they dont have an army of lobbyists. But they know that if theres a boot at their throat in terms of what they have, what they offer can be slowed down or discriminated against or blocked, they are just knocked off of their blocks. So i think that we have to be wise and and we have to be prudent, we have to be practical, and i think that we can, we can protectty innovatio, and we can do so with what i call a light touch of regulation. I think we can accomplish all of that. Host Brendan Sasso of the National Journal is joining our conversation. Thanks, peter. Youre saying a light touch regulation, but, i mean, do you think its necessary, though, that the only way the fcc can get where you think is necessary is to reclassify under title ii and then waive the more burdensome requirements, is that the position . Guest i think that what we want to accomplish is certainty. Businesses, regardless of their size, always need certainty. They need to know what the rules of the road are, and we need to be clear about that. I think that the fcc over several, you know, chairmen have tried very hard to come up with, you know regulation to go ahead and move ahead. But its been a decade where theres been one lawsuit after another, the fcc has had to go back to the drawing boards. I want to get beyond lawsuits, i really do. I think that america really needs to be on the move. And we have been. But just think if we dont have to drive with an emergency brake on. Thats the way i would characterize it. So, yes, i think that the fcc should direct itself toward and i think it wants to toward certainty. And certainty means that theres not a legal cloud hanging over whatever their decision is. And thats why i think that this particular section that i mentioned holds a great deal of promise. Fcc chairman wheeler gave a speech yesterday where it seemed like he was hinting he might want to expand the Net Neutrality regulations for wireless, also rules for your cell phone. Guest uhhuh. Do you think thats an important piece of the regulation . Guest well, i mentioned it just a few moments ago, i do. If, in fact, close to one and a half Million People have voiced their opinion to the fcc during the Comment Period on the whole issue of Net Neutrality with a wireless device, i mean, what more can we say . This is, this is our world today. Its simply a fact of life. And i think that our, you know, your national law should reflect it. A few weeks ago you did a post on reddit. Are there any new names that have come out that you think might work better . [laughter] guest well, let me just say this. Something like 28,000 people have submitted their, their choice, and i think that we need something thats simple and that the American People will understand. So i havent gotten to review them all. I mean, my plate has really been full in the last several days. But were going to be putting out an announcement about it. Im thrilled that so many people participated. 28,000 people, thats larger than some of the communities i represent. So people care about it. And in addition to their voting, so to speak, there were thousands of others that weighed in and gave very long written opinions on how to address Net Neutrality. Now, that was not the intent of the contest, but they still felt very strongly about it. Host back to section 202, congresswoman eshoo, youre either a common carrier or youre not a common carrier, is that a Fair Division on section 202 . And how do you delineate using just that to achieve a Net Neutrality . Guest well, i think you have to read the section and see how its drawn. And, because it has worked for a long, long time, and it has finish the first section, a, speaks to that, that discrimination, blocking well, we call it blocking in the broadband world is not acceptable. And that really is the basic tenet of the effort. But it also speaks to penalties. If people disobey, so to speak thats the mother in me speaking and how thats handled. Its really, its about six sentences of section a. This is not a long, winding, complicated road. Now, everyones not going to agree, and there are corporate interests in my district that probably dont agree. But thats all right. I mean b, they supply equipment to different people, and i understand that. They have a different purpose in life. My responsibility is to the public, to the public good, to the public interest. And im a very pragmatic person as well. We need to get beyond lawsuits around this. We need to keep expanding our economy and understand that this area of our economy holds extraordinary promise with good paying jobs. And then the effect that it has on people across our country and around the world, we dont want to lose American Leadership in this area. So im not for stifling anything. I want if anyone has listened or read what ive said or the legislation that ive done, its always been around innovation, protecting consumers and growth. And i think that we need to direct ourself to that, and i think a very light regulatory touch will do it. Thats my view. Lets see what the fcc does, and i think the American People are you know, the American People are not caught up in different sections. Of the law. And title ii and, versus whatever. They know what they5vu want, thy think that its fair, and they want the regulatory c agency, congress, whomever they call it government they want, they want those protections, and theyll move on, and so will the companies and so will the startups. So theyre not caught up in all of this language. Its our job to get the job done for them. And i think that this is a good pathway toward it. Host my last question on Net Neutrality, i promise. I dont know about brent can. Netflix is supporting reclassification of title ii, at least they put their name to that. But at the same time, they were looking at deals to maybe have enhanced Broadband Service or socalled fast lane. Do you support the fast lane, socalled fast lane guest well, i think that, obviously, companies do what they need to do to protect, you know, their investments and their shareholders. So i dont get into the weeds about what someone is doing before the next decision is being taken. Theyre doing that for their own interests, but i think that what it points to that they need it to protect themselves because of the specter of blocking. Thats what i pull out of that, out of that story. And so, look, there isnt anyone thats going to stand up anywhere and i[lid this earlier and say, guess what . Im for blocking. There just isnt anyone thats for it. Even those that maybe have been inclined to it say were not for discrimination. So i think we need to be adult, and we need to be pragmatic, yn ]6 know, it theres a whole range of interests that are an interest in this. God bless all of them. I have my responsibility overall jt the country, the people of the district and the, you know, the public interest. That really has to, at the end of the day, after listening and weighing outjmn all of this, tt is the major ingredient that i have to throw into the mix in order to, in order to bake the cake. Tn4 and for those that fear heavy regulation, i understand that. Im not for that. Brendan sasso. Not a Net Neutrality question but another issue i think is important to the future of the internet which is the sort of wave of potential consolidation that were seeing. Comcast wants tou7 buy time warr cable, at t and directv, and the governments scaring away sprint from trying to buy tmobile. Should it be allowed, and what does it mean . Guest well, i think that the American People vieo . 8c these proposed mergers witho1p wary eye, and i say that because of the number of constituents that ive heard from. I mean, thousands have sat down, handwritten notes to me. Obviously, most of the correspondence is via email. And theres a reason that they are skeptical about it. They want to befo8 assured that less and paying more. They are for competition, and they know just in their own personal experience that without robust competition that they 8y the price of their and the price of their bills go up. And in some instances, their service is less than what they want. The reviews of these mergers have to be viewed through that9 n lens. Now, i mean, there have been mergers that have been approved, you know, over the years. Q  i guess, you know, people say that theyve worked, you know, inn terms of, you know, what would they dont, they dont compete with each other in the same, ine . The same market. But the lens that i vi5iarn it through is what i just statedwfo you. And i think that that is a central responsibility of those in the federal government that are going to review this. Because atn q end of the day, who are our n bosses . B.  i mean, whos paying our salary . Who is, you know, ends up with lives . The American People are. So i think that these mergers reallyi] need to be scrutinized very, very carefully, and i think that . Ouz;bvio driving thes of the reviewni need to be these values, because they are values to people. Do you think there could be maybe some tough conditions that would make the deal acceptable, or do you think that the fcc and Justice Department should block comcast from buying Time Warner Cable outright . Guest well, im not ready to go there this terms of outright blockage. Im not the one thats going the reviewing. Idea for the, for our committee, our subcommittee to bring in thh parties and have a hearing on it. I suggested it, i asked chairman walden, chairmana of our technology, you know, communicationxd Technology Subcommittee to do that. I i think perhaps he doesnt think9xuits abwjt idea. It hasnt happened, lets put it that wayment but i thought that it would be a very good idea for members to be exposed to more of the issues other than what we may pick up, you know,e  a]n o, you know, however we absorb information; newspapers, alerts op our phone on our phones and what our staffs may give to us. But that hasnt happened. And i still think that theres some time for it. nr i mean, i dont think these decisions are going to be made immediately. But that didnt happen. Guest i did go through my statements according to the time frame that was mentioned in the news, and during that time frame i hadnt made any purchases, so i just, i didnt make a call to replace my card. But these are sweeping breaches. I mean, this ensnares millions, tens of millions of people. And it is no source of comfort to my constituents and i dont think anyone else, certainly not to me when its announced after the breach has taken place, well, we detected it, two weeks later or three months later. What does that mean . It just is not a source of comfort. So, now, we have, we have real thievery going on, and it needs to be addressed. If every major bank in the country were held up all at once or successively, dont you think thered be, you know, a massive response on the part of Law Enforcement . So were the cops on the beat. Congress and the administration should be, i think, working to achieve two changes, at least i think that these are prudent ones, and that is, one, that there be security requirements, that you have to work with the private sector. Ive never done technologyspecific legislation, but i think that we can work with the private sector and say we need to, there need to be standards met. And it would be in their interest as well. This time and money and effort that has to go into playing catch up after the breach takes place as in my case, you know, i got a new credit card. I didnt ask for it, but it was replaced. And so were tens of millions of others. So i think that Security Standards should be two steps; Security Standards to be examined in working with the private sector and also, what would be the other one . The penalties. The penalties need to be very, very stiff in terms of these really huge and malicious undertakings, those that do them. And that would send a very, very strong message as well. Another important issue thats coming up, the fcc wants to hold a spectrum auction where theyll buy back the licenses from the tv stations and auction those to the cell phone companies. The National Association of broadcasters has sued the fcc. Are you concerned about that lawsuit . Could that delay the auction . Guest i think its a bump in the road, but i dont think its going to delay the auction. I think the fcc is on track to conduct the auction in 2015. Its a huge and very, very important undertaking, and its the first time in the history of our country i think in the history of the world that an auction has been set up this way. Its voluntary. And the purposes of the auction are real essentials in the 21st century that we create more unlicensed spectrum which is an innovation platform, that we fund firstnet. You know that there was one recommendation of the 9 11 commission that congress had not made good on, and that is that we establish a nationwide, interoperable Public Safety network. Why . Because on that horrible, dreadful day of 9 11 fire and police went into those towers, and they could not communicate with each other. And so we finally put that in place. And so the funding for that effort would come out of auction dollars and also to pay down the deficit. So its a very, very important and historic undertaking. I think its unfortunate that the broadcasters have done that, but i would consider it a bump in the road. I dont think that its going to stop the effort. Host representative eshoo, the 113th congress is nearing its end. Guest yes. Host henry wax match, the current top democrat on the energy and Commerce Committee is leaving, youve expressed interest in taking over that position. Whats the hows it going . Guest i have. I think, first, we should appreciate the number of years of service of henry waxman, 40 years in the congress. Forty years of extraordinary leadership. John dingell from the committee, who also served as chairman, chairman emeritus, ranking member, 60 years service. Thats 100 years of service to American People, so i salute them. And, yes, when mr. Waxman made the announcement, i also made mine that i would throw my hat in the ring to be the lead democrat at the committee. And so weve been working hard on the effort. Im highly encouraged. Its been, its a long journey from the end of january to december. But its a worthwhile effort, and so im encouraged by the support im receiving by my colleagues, the people that are listening are probably wondering when votes on this. Who votes on this. Itll be the democrats, the democrats the new democrats that come in plus the reelected democrats after the national election. So im looking forward to it, and were still working very, very hard which you need to do to earn peoples support. But im very encouraged, and im overwhelmingly grateful. Host does your fellow californian, nancy pelosi, support your bid . Guest she does. Host does that help . Guest oh, i think so. I think enormously. I think e enormously. Because it is, its a, its such an important vote of confidence. This is not something that she has ever done on a regular basis. And i didnt know that she was going to do it. And so it is, i think its a blessing myself. Host anna eshoo, Brendan Sasso, thank you. Guest thank you. Cspan, created by americas Cable Companies 35 years ago and brought to you as a Public Service by your local cable or satellite provide err. Provider. Hi, were excited to announce that its launch week for the 11th annual student cam documentary cop test. 100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to middle and High School Contest winners. This years theme is the broadest ever, its the three branches and you. Wed like you to tell a story that demonstrates how a policy, a law or an action by either the executive, legislative or judicial branches of the federal government has affected you in your life or your community. The competit