Brian Roberts, Comcast CEO seems to be agreeing with Obama on ‘Net Neutrality’. “For me, the debate over net neutrality is also a debate over semantics,’ he said.
“My telecommunications company concurs in principal with Obama’s call for protecting internet neutrality, which obviously would bar service provider companies from giving privileged treatment to the selected companies,” Roberts stated Wednesday.
Moreover, he stated that he completely disagrees with the way Obama wants to enforce the rules.
Also, in a news conference held at San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum, Roberts persisted his conglomerate is a booster of the internet neutrality – even though Comcast has already been charging companies such as online video streaming service Netflix to make certain its customers receive reliable service – despite accusations that it’s acting deceitfully.
We strongly disagree with the allegation,” he added.
The event was hosted by Comcast Ventures — the venture capital arm of the Philadelphia company that runs the country’s largest cable system and the entertainment giant NBCUniversal.
Roberts appeared on media just 2 days after Obama generate a grapple with large telecommunications conglomerates like Comcast and also the soon-to-be Republican-brought Congress by suggesting that internet broadband companies be controlled as public utilities, under Title II of the federal Telecommunications Act.
American President also asked to ban on paid access to faster use. That may prevent deals like the agreement, Comcast arrived at with Los Gatos’ Netflix.
Way back in Feb, Netflix decided to pay Comcast to make sure that its customers received faster, more reliable service when they had broadband through Comcast. The 2 companies later bickered over who triggered the degraded service Netflix reported late past year.
On Monday, Comcast immediately responded to the Obama’s speech by saying the organization supports an open Internet, however, that another part of the Telecommunications Act that imposes a “light touch” on rules. Comcast experts noted that the organization was following internet neutrality rules enforced by government bodies once it merged with NBCUniversal.
The Federal Communications Commission — government regulators are focusing on drafting new internet neutrality rules.
Though, Roberts didn’t directly criticize Obama’s decision to consider a powerful get up on internet neutrality now, but was opposed on the intricacies about how exactly large telecom companies is going to be controlled. He stated Comcast is “comfortable” that the government and also the telecom industry can forge a contract finally.
“What we shouldn’t do is somehow have price regulations in a business that’s competitive,” Roberts said.
On Wednesday, AT&T responded to Obama’s stance by saying it might stop investing in the intends to build high-speed fiber-optic broadband systems in approximately 100 cities of United States before the internet neutrality debate is settled.
But Roberts clarifies that Comcast hasn’t made any plans to lessen its capital investments considering the restored debate.
Also, he stated he doesn’t think the controversy will affect Comcast’s suggested purchase of Time Warner Cable, though Obama’s speech sent stock values for both companies down.
In the press event, Comcast revealed a voice-activated TV remote remote control as well as an audio-enabled programming guide to assist the aesthetically impaired.