Verizon Comments on FCC's Proposed Rules for Open Internet

The Federal Communications Commission today adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals' remand of the FCC's 2010 net neutrality order. The following statement should be attributed to Randal S. Milch, executive vice president, public policy, and general counsel of Verizon

: "Verizon has long been committed to an open Internet for a simple reason: Our customers demand it. This was true before the FCC ever considered putting rules in place, and serving our customers will ensure our commitment to an open Internet regardless of what the FCC does in the future. "The Internet's remarkable growth and innovation is in part the result of ongoing investment by broadband providers deploying faster, more innovative networks. During the past six years, Verizon alone has invested over $100 billion in deploying its fiber to the home and wireless broadband networks. This investment was encouraged by a bipartisan consensus for light-touch regulation of the Internet that began in the Clinton administration. We look forward to reviewing the FCC's proposal, and we will be constructively engaged in the months to come. But one thing is clear: For the FCC to impose 1930s utility regulation on the Internet would lead to years of legal and regulatory uncertainty and would jeopardize investment and innovation in broadband." Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq:

), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 103 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with more than $120 billion in 2013 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 176,900. For more information, visit www.verizon.com. VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon's online News Center at newscenter.verizon.com. The news releases are available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/feeds. SOURCE Verizon