In November the Senate reconfirmed Martin for a second term at the helm of the agency that exerts heavy influences on the network industry. Net neutrality is turning out to be the defining power issue of his reign. The republican gave the thumbs up to the AT&T/BellSouth merger but as of press time he was still ushering it through his agency’s approval process after net neutrality proponents, supported by the commission’s democrats, turned the deal into a forum for their cause. Earlier in the year, Martin also declared that the FCC has the authority to enforce net neutrality violations in both voice and video, should his commission let the concept become a reality.
> Regulatory
Ted Stevens
TITLE
Chairman
COMPANY
Senate Commerce Committee
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Unfortunately, power isn’t always good, and Stevens (R-Alaska) provides a case in point. The senator, whose comments about the Internet infrastructure led to a rapped spoof, is certainly inarticulate if not uninformed on network technology. Still, by virtue of position, he has great influence over pending telecommunications regulation. As one result of his limited understanding, businesses may end up paying more for network services.
