FCC Ex Parte Filing on Open Internet and Broadband Investment, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

By SBE Council at 29 October, 2014, 12:35 pm

Marlene Dortch, Secretary

Federal Communications Commission

445 12^th Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20554

Via ECFS

RE: Notice of ex parte presentation

Protecting and Promoting an Open Internet, GN Docket 14-28

Access to Affordable Broadband and Competitive Choices

Dear Ms. Dortch:

On October 27, 2014, a delegation of small business members and entrepreneurs from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) and the undersigned met with Adonis Hoffman, Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, to discuss the Open Internet proceedings and the importance of affordable broadband access and choice for small businesses, their customers/clients and individuals seeking the path of entrepreneurship. Business owners Victoria Braden, Todd Flemming, Barbara Weltman and Brian Moran joined me for the meeting.

We outlined points consistent with SBE Council’s comments and filings in the Open Internet proceedings. Namely, we expressed the importance of affordable access to broadband for entrepreneurs, and the need for Commission policies and initiatives that encourage investment to bring more choice and reliable service to small businesses throughout the country. Each business owner, representing different sectors, noted their own experiences in health care and benefits, publishing, educational content, and security services for government and commercial clients. We noted that broadband access and access to reliable broadband was lacking in some areas where these business owners work, or in the areas where they serve or want to serve customers.

We expressed our concern about regulating the broadband Internet under Title II (reclassifying broadband as a public utility), and what this may mean for investment in broadband infrastructure and its impact on small businesses and entrepreneurs. We expressed concern that reclassification could negatively impact small business access to broadband, impair innovation, and could possibly drive costs higher. We expressed concern about unintended consequences in applying Title II regulation to the broadband Internet.

We expressed our support for Commission actions and initiatives to encourage deployment and investment, which will expand access to high-speed broadband services for small businesses. For example, the group expressed support for the ATT-DIRECT TV transaction that will lead to wireline and wireless services for millions of small businesses in rural areas. The transaction would bring more competition to markets where small business owners have no choice in meeting their broadband needs.

The Commission should act consistent with our presentation and filings in the Open Internet proceedings.

Respectfully Submitted,