Commentary: FCC Net Neutrality Proceeding Offers An Opportunity To Get It Right

(Commentary by Paul Dauby, Vice President and COO, PSC, St. Meinrad, Indiana)

Tom and Steve,

I always look forward to reading this report.

I agree that the proposed Net Neutrality Principles could slow down
Broadband Deployment but.....

This NPRM is exactly what the doctor ordered. If the responses are honest
and thorough and if the FCC is really open to the comments filed then the
end result should be an acceleration of executing the National Broadband
Plan. The principles will have to come later. We don't have our house in
order yet to implement principles.

I know my friends in the industry would probably like to shoot me for my
thinking on this but first we have to know and understand the facts. We
haven't had the truth and nothing but truth. Our technical folks have been
asleep at the wheel too...or far too many have been. Anyway...

We network providers have an opportunity to sell the reasons for Broadband
USF which includes the middlemile. The FCC cannot escape the
inter-relationship of the two- Broadband USF and Net Neutrality.

If the FCC screws this up then many hard working politicians will have their
jobs in jeopardy. This is extremely business. There are traps set as for as
I am concerned.

I am in the process of preparing my comments to the NPRM. One side of me is
asking...Why do I think anyone will listen to me? My Christian answer
is....I am obligated to speak up. 35 years in the industry will not allow be
to get negative. After that my conscious is clear.

That's my sermon for today.

Thanks to both of you.

Paul