MPAA Won’t Pass Judgment on Internet Rules…Yet
The MPAA, representing Hollywood’s six major studios, did not praise or condemn the FCC’s vote on new net neutrality rules.
The trade association instead said that it was waiting to see whether the final language restricts the ability to combat online piracy or whether the rules could somehow extend to content.
The FCC is expected to issue the final text of the rules in the coming days.
“The MPAA member studios, like everyone, want to see the Internet continue to flourish,” the MPAA said. “Our narrow focus throughout the network neutrality debate has been to ensure that the rules do not thwart efforts to prevent copyright infringement, or otherwise chill production and distribution of innovative content. Until we see the order we cannot know for sure, but the FCC has previously indicated that it would continue to make clear that the rules do not apply to unlawful transmission of content, and would refrain from regulating parties on the edge of the Internet, such as content creators.”
Studios may have conflicting concerns about net neutrality and the FCC’s approach, which is to reclassify the Internet as a common carrier.
Comcast, parent company of NBCUniversal, was critical of the FCC’s action.
“We fully embrace open Internet principles that have been laid out by President Obama and chairman Wheeler and that now have been adopted by the FCC,” Comcast exec VP David L. Cohen wrote in a blog post. “We just don’t believe statutory provisions designed for the telephone industry and adopted when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president should be stretched to govern the 21st century Internet.”
Cohen added that they “will need to await release of the Order so we – and everyone else – can review completely all of the actions taken through today’s important vote. Specifically, after seeing the Order, we’ll have to engage in additional internal scrutiny on what our investment plans with respect to broadband will be going forward.”
Comcast’s proposed merger with Time Warner Cable is pending before the FCC and the Department of Justice.
The FCC’s decision has draw widespread — and often pointed reaction. President Obama said that the decision “will protect innovation and create a level playing field for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement, “We fought for this decision because an open internet is essential for equal access to the economy of the future, especially in the creative, technology and communications sectors, which are so critical to L.A.’s middle class.”
Gary Lucchesi and Lori McCreary. co-presidents of the Producers Guild of America, said that the FCC’s approach “is realistic and provides producers of creative content with a powerful affirmation that internet distribution channels will remain equally and fairly accessible to all services, voices and perspectives.”
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