Verizon Executive Comments on Net Neutrality

Speaking at an industry event, Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications, warned that Net Neutrality legislation could stall or delay broadband rollouts.

Tauke said Verizon is committed to ensuring full access to the Internet at speeds and prices that meet consumers' needs. But he said that sound policies and a better policy debate are needed.

"The plain truth is that today's access and backbone networks simply do not have the capacity to deliver all that customers expect," Tauke said. "Next-generation Web services will require a next-generation architecture...

"Building out America's Internet and broadband infrastructure will require billions more in private capital investment," he said. "There are also looming policy issues that could advance or hinder broadband's future...

"There is a legitimate discussion to be had about broadband networks and their reliability and accessibility. But that isn't what we are having right now. Instead, we have heated rhetoric, fueled by unfounded fear that overlooks the success of the market and forgets the consumer."http://www.verizon.com