Rockefeller: STELA Reauthorization Must Advance the Public Interest

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller today issued prepared remarks for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet hearing titled, “Reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA).”

Rockefeller Statement on FCC Media Ownership Action

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) action on media ownership. Rockefeller has called on the FCC to closely examine the use of Joint Sales Agreements (JSA) and Shared Services Agreements (SSA) by broadcasters and has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how JSAs and SSAs impact competition and consumers.

Rockefeller Statement on Global Internet Governance

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) announcement that it intends to support the process of transitioning the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Rockefeller to ICANN: Websites Ending in “.Sucks” Do Not Serve the Public Interest

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today expressed his concern about allowing websites to use names that end in “.sucks”, explaining that the only apparent purpose of these websites is to extract “defensive registration” payments from Internet users, and unfairly defame individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses. In a letter to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for approving generic top level domains (gTLD) like “.com” or “.net”, Rockefeller wrote that approving the pending gTLD for “.sucks” will force businesses and non-profits to pay ongoing fees to third parties to avoid having their names associated with the new gTLD.

Rockefeller Statement on FCC Chairman’s Media Ownership Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler’s media ownership proposal. Rockefeller has called on the FCC to closely examine the use of Joint Sales Agreements (JSAs) and Shared Services Agreements (SSAs) by broadcasters and has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how JSAs and SSAs impact competition and consumers.

Rockefeller, Thune, Pryor, Wicker Letter on STELA

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Several provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) are set to expire on December 31, 2014. Today, Commerce Committee Chairman John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV and Ranking Member John Thune, and Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee Chairman Mark Pryor and Ranking Member Roger Wicker sent the following letter seeking input on the scope and impact of the STELA reauthorization from a diverse array of stakeholders, including satellite TV, broadcasters, cable television, online video, broadband, public interest groups, and free market think tanks.

Rockefeller Statement on FCC Chairman Wheeler’s Open Internet Announcement

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler’s announcement that he will propose new Open Internet rules.

“I am happy that Chairman Wheeler has decided to move forward quickly to respond to the D.C. Circuit court’s net neutrality decision. The court made clear that Congress has spoken: the FCC has ample statutory authority to protect consumers and competition online. I have always supported the FCC’s use of its full authority under the Communications Act to accomplish these goals, and appreciate that Chairman Wheeler has kept all options on the table. I look forward to examining the Chairman’s plan in more detail.”

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Rockefeller Statement on FCC Chair’s E-Rate Announcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today issued the following statement after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler previewed his plans for modernizing the E-Rate program at an event celebrating National Digital Learning Day.

Rockefeller Statement on Private Sector Investment in Digital Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today issued the following statement after President Obama announced that several private high tech companies have pledged to donate more than $750 million in devices, content, services and new teacher training tools to increase digital learning opportunities.