OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
March 3, 2010
The Honorable Joe Barton
Committee on Energy and Commerce
u.s. House ofRepresentatives
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Barton:
I write to update you on the progress ofour ongoing rulemaking to preserve the open
Internet. Thank you for your letter expressing your thoughts and concerns about the
Commission's launch ofa participatory public process to develop commonsense rules ofthe road
to preserve an open Internet. I believe we share a common purpose in ensuring that the Internet
remains an enduring engine for innovation, investment, economic growth, and the free flow of
information. To this important end, you have my pledge to continue working with you and your
staff in an ongoing, constructive dialogue with respect to this crucial infrastructure.
The Commission released its Notice ofProposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on preserving the
open Internet on October 22, 2009. The NPRMlaunched a multi-month process, with the goals
ofsafeguarding the free and open Internet, providing greater predictability for the marketplace,
and fostering continued innovation and investment. The task ofsecuring an open Internet
deserves an open process. Accordingly, Commission staffare conducting a fact-based,
transparent, and participatory process to develop rules based on a record that includes
engineering and economic examinations.
The Commission has convened a group oftechnical advisory experts for ongoing input,
and held a workshop in December on broadband network management. Over the last three
months, the Commission also has held staff-level workshops on investment and innovation, on
consumers and transparency, and on free speech and civic participation. Our process now is well
underway, and we are encouraged by signs of growing common ground among the many
stakeholders we have heard from.
I look forward to continuing a constructive dialogue with you on these issues. Please do
not hesitate to contact me ifI can be offurther assistance.
Sincerely,
- .
-",.,...----
Julius Genachowski