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FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler needs to push for...

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler needs to push for reclassification of broadband as a Title II service to keep paid prioritization from becoming a big problem for many high-tech companies, said Paul Sieminski, general counsel of web development company Automattic, in…

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a filing at the commission. Sieminski said he took part in a meeting last week of Wheeler and various venture capital and startup executives (CD June 30 p12). While Wheeler aide Gigi Sohn summarized the discussion (http://bit.ly/1pXtFHw) in an FCC filing, Sieminski said he wanted to offer additional commentary (http://bit.ly/1jKHS4K). “We think the Chairman should not focus on what’s easiest to do in Washington,” he wrote. “Rather, the FCC Chairman should begin with the correct policy, which is keeping access to the Internet open and neutral as it has been historically.” Wheeler’s proposed net neutrality rules “don’t do enough” to prohibit paid prioritization, he wrote. “Indeed, the FCC’s proposed rules would authorize discrimination and even exclusive arrangements for priority. While that may be politically expedient, it is terrible economic and civic policy.” The filing was posted by the FCC Tuesday in docket 14-28.