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NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

September 28, 2012
Matthew Berry, 202-418-2005
Email: Matthew.Berry@fcc.gov

STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI

ON GOVERNOR BROWN’S DECISION TO SIGN

THE CALIFORNIA INTERNET-PROTOCOL DEREGULATION BILL

Federal and state telephone regulations were developed in a bygone era when state-
sanctioned monopolies ran copper-wire networks. Today’s currency is convergence; voice,
video, and data are simply different bundles of packets traveling over next-generation networks,
rather than different services supplied by niche providers. Accordingly, we need to prepare for
an all-IP future, in which cable, telephone, satellite, and wireless companies compete with each
other to bring innovative services at better prices to American consumers.
As we do so, I hope that we can draw inspiration from California’s recent example.
Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the California Internet-Protocol deregulation bill.1
This legislation will prevent the application of legacy economic regulations to IP services while
preserving consumer protections like E911. This legislation was bipartisan work at its best;
legislators and the governor set aside partisan differences to enact reforms that will facilitate
private investment, economic growth, and job creation. If Golden State Democrats and
Republicans can reach a consensus that IP networks should be free from intrusive government
regulation, we at the FCC should be able to do so as well.
- FCC -

1 S.B. 1161, 2011–2012 Sess. (Ca. 2012), http://go.usa.gov/YxU5.

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