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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

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

January 16, 2009
Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668
Email: robert.kenny@fcc.gov

FCC CHAIRMAN MARTIN ISSUES COMPREHENSIVE REPORT SHOWING

COMMISSION'S SUCCESS OVER PAST FOUR YEARS IN PROTECTING

CONSUMERS AND PROMOTING COMPETITION

Washington DC Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J.
Martin today issued a comprehensive report showing the Commission's success in creating a
regulatory environment that advanced consumer protections and promoted investment and
industry competition setting the rules of the road so that players could compete on a level
playing-field.
"Faced with such fast-paced technological changes, as Chairman, I always made
decisions based on a fundamental belief that a robust, competitive marketplace, not regulation, is
ultimately the greatest protector of the public interest," Chairman Martins said. "As a regulatory
agency, we did have a role to serve and we stepped in when the marketplace didn't allow for
sufficient competition to a former monopoly, when the market needed to be open to new entrants
and technologies, or when the larger societal goals such as ensuring the needs of public safety,
fell outside the market scope."
Chairman Martin's accomplishments during his tenure at the FCC were guided by the
philosophy of pursuing deregulation while focusing on what is best for the consumer. He has
focused on establishing the appropriate regulatory environment that achieves the right balance
between two competing interests: (1) to encourage investment in communications infrastructure
and (2) to make sure consumers and innovation are not unintentionally or intentionally
disadvantaged by the owners of that infrastructure. His efforts took many forms, ranging from
the promotion of more competition across technology platforms to making sure consumers have
access to broadband services without arbitrary blocking or delays. Fostering broadband
deployment was a top policy priority because it affects nearly every aspect of consumers' lives.
The full report is available on the FCC's web site at: www.fcc.gov .
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