FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 11, 1996
________________________________________________________________________________
Internet Industry Files Jointly Against
Long Distance Telephone Carriers
WASHINGTON, DC Jun 11/PRNewswire/ -- The "Voice on the Net" (VON) Coalition, an Internet organization devoted to creating global awareness of audio, video, multimedia, and Internet Telephony products and software, along with major computer industry organizations and companies filed joint reply comments yesterday asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to not ban Internet Telephony as requested in March by America's Carriers Telecommunications Association (ACTA) a group representing approximately 130 long distance telephone carrier resellers.
Jeff Pulver, Chairman, of the VON Coalition which coordinated the Joint Parties filing stated, "ACTA's demands are designed to protect the economic self-interest of a narrow group of companies at the cost of a variety of beneficial new services. All of the respondent's mentioned in ACTA's original petition are signatories to this Joint Parties filing."
The Joint Parties either directly or through their memberships, include a wide variety of companies and individuals involved in the development of products and services related to the Internet.
Specifically, the Joint Parties are: Commercial Internet eXchange Association (CIX); FreeTel Communications, Inc. and Third Planet Publishing Inc.; Microsoft Corporation; Millin Publishing Group, Inc.; Netscape Communications Corporation and Voxware, Inc.; New Media Coalition for Marketplace Solutions; Quarterdeck Corporation and VocalTec(TM) Ltd; Software Publishers Association; and the VON Coalition.
The Joint Parties stand united in their opposition to ACTA's proposal that
the FCC regulate the internet and, in particular, the providers of software
that facilitates two-way voice communications over computer networks such as
the Internet.
Ken Wasch, President, Software Publishers Association said, "The filing of these joint comments demonstrates to the FCC that all of the various industries involved with the Internet are unified in their position that the Internet should not be regulated. Regulation will only stifle this quickly evolving technology."
Pulver adds, "There has never been a more powerful unity assembled in such a short period of time for the betterment and prosperity of the Internet."
ACTA contends that software developers and vendors are "Telecommunications Carriers". The Joint Parties and almost all of the other parties submitting comments disagree with ACTA's analysis. Clearly, software providers only sell their software products, and do not provide any transmission services. Thus, they do not provide "telecommunications".
Dr. Elon Ganor, VocalTec chairman and CEO, said, "We oppose the ACTA petition as it asks the government to define what is permissible communication over the Internet, it asks for regulation of software companies, and it's entirely contrary to the stated policy of the United States calling for free and vibrant development of the Internet. Even more important, the market and the people already have decided this issue. We stand united with the industry in opposition to this petition."
Other recent opponent filings to the ACTA proposal were made by more than four hundred thirty (430) individuals, corporations and educational institutions worldwide via electronic mail (email) to a special FCC email address promulgated by the assistance and cooperation of the VON Coalition. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration plus the National Science Foundation also submitted comments urging the FCC to deny ACTA's petition forthwith.
The complete text of the Joint Parties reply comments is viewable online at - von.org. The VON Coalition's homepage is located at - von.org.
-0- 6/11/96
/CONTACT: Sandy Combs, Director, VON Coalition, 802-878-9884 or <sandy@von.org>/ |
