Barbara K Iverson

Former FCC commissioner Michael Copps has publicly excoriated Congress and the FCC for the state of Internet access in America, which he called “insanity,” saying that America’s political class “should be ashamed of ourselves.” Copps was speaking at a DC event examining the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which created the short-lived practice of requiring American telcoms operators to share their lines with new entrants, allowing many competing DSL providers to flourish. This practice ended in 2005, and led to today’s situation in which most Americans have 0, 1 or 2 broadband options. (via Former FCC commissioner to Washington: “You should be ashamed of yourself” – Boing Boing)