Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras convened the Internet Access Task Force in August 2006 to examine issues raised by converging technologies and regulatory developments, and to inform the enforcement, advocacy, and education initiatives of the Commission.

Under the leadership of the Task Force, the FTC staff recently addressed two issues of interest to consumers and policy makers. First, in October 2006, the FTC released a staff report, Municipal Provision of Wireless Internet, which identifies the potential benefits and risks to competition and consumers associated with municipal provision of wireless Internet service. In June 2007, the FTC released a staff report, Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy, which summarizes the Task Force’s findings in the area of broadband Internet access, including so-called network neutrality, and proposes guiding principles for assessing this complex issue.

Currently, the Task Force is evaluating the competition and consumer protection issues raised by the transition from so-called plain old telephone service to Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, which allows one to communicate by voice using an Internet connection rather than a regular phone connection. As a standing entity, the Task Force would like to hear interested parties’ views on VoIP, broadband, and other Internet-related issues.

• Workshops
  
  
  • Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy (February 13-14, 2007)
    
    
• Reports
  
  
  • Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy (June 2007)
    
    • Concurring statement of Commissioner Jon Leibowitz
      
      
  • FTC Staff Report: Municipal Provision of Wireless Internet
    (September 2006)
    • Concurring statement of Commissioner Jon Leibowitz
      
      
• Speeches
  
  
  • FTC Chairman Provides Keynote Address at Seventh Annual Antitrust Fall Forum (November 2007)
    
    
  • The FTC: Working for Consumers in the On-line World
    Keynote Address, FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras (June 2007)
    
    
  • Opening Remarks of Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras
    FTC Workshop on Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy (February 2007)
    
    
  • "The Federal Trade Commission in the Online World: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers"
    Chairman’s Aspen Speech (August 2006)
    
    
• Press Releases
  
  
  • For Release: June 27, 2007
    FTC Issues Staff Report on Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy
    Report Urges Caution on Network Neutrality Regulation
    
    
  • For Release: December 7, 2006
    FTC to Host Workshop on Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy
    The Federal Trade Commission will host a two-day public workshop on “Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy” in Washington, DC on February 13 and 14, 2007.
    
    
  • For Release: October 10, 2006
    Should Municipalities Provide Wireless Internet Service? FTC Staff Report Provides Guidance to Promote Competition
    Improving consumer access to broadband Internet service is an important goal for federal, state, and local governments.
    
    
  • For Release: August 21, 2006
    FTC Chairman Addresses Issue of “Net Neutrality”
    Internet Access Task Force Will Examine Issues Raised by Converging Technologies