Public Knowledge - Testimony

Testimony (Oral): XM-Sirius and the Public Interest

Webmaster — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:00:19 -0400

This document is also available in PDF format.

Oral Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge

Thank you Chairman Inouye, Vice Chairman Stevens and other Committee members for inviting me to discuss the merger of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.

The proposed merger presents a dilemma for public interest advocates. On one hand, the only two providers of satellite radio services, which have vigorously competed over the past five years, are seeking to consolidate, raising questions about the impact on prices and choice for consumers. On the other hand, this competition has left both companies weakened in a world where other multi-channel music, entertainment and information options are increasingly popular.

Testimony (Written): XM-Sirius and the Public Interest

Webmaster — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:56:26 -0400

This document is also available in PDF format.

Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge

Before the
U.S. Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Hearing on: “XM-Sirius and the Public Interest”

April 17, 2007

Chairman Inouye, Vice Chairman Stevens, and other members of the Committee, my name is Gigi B. Sohn. I am the President of Public Knowledge, a nonprofit public interest organization that addresses the public’s stake in the convergence of communications policy and intellectual property law. I want to thank the Committee for inviting me to testify on the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Testimony (Oral): The XM-Sirius Merger: Monopoly or Competition from New Technologies

Webmaster — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:34:11 -0400

This document is also available in PDF format.

Oral Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge

Thank you Chairman Kohl, Ranking Member Hatch and other members of the Subcommittee for inviting me to discuss the merger of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.

The proposed merger presents a dilemma for public interest advocates. On one hand, the only two providers of satellite radio services, which have vigorously competed for the past five years, are seeking to consolidate, raising questions about the impact on prices and choice for consumers. On the other hand, this vigorous competition has led to a spending war for programming, leaving both competitors weakened in a world where other multi-channel music, entertainment and information services have become increasingly popular.

Testimony (Written): The XM-Sirius Merger: Monopoly or Competition from New Technologies

Webmaster — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:24:41 -0400

This document is also available in PDF format.

Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge

Before the
U.S. Senate
Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights

Hearing on: “The XM-Sirius Merger: Monopoly or Competition from New Technologies”

March 20, 2007

Chairman Kohl, Ranking Member Hatch and other members of the Subcommittee, my name is Gigi B. Sohn. I am the President of Public Knowledge, a nonprofit public interest organization that addresses the public’s stake in the convergence of communications policy and intellectual property law. I want to thank the Subcommittee for inviting me to testify on the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Testimony (Oral): Competition and the Future of Digital Music

Webmaster — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:59:49 -0500

This document is also available in PDF format.

Oral Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge

Before the
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary
Antitrust Task Force

Hearing on: “Competition and the Future of Digital Music”

February 28, 2007

Thank you Chairman Conyers, Ranking Member Smith and other members of the Task Force for inviting me to discuss the merger of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.

The proposed merger presents a dilemma for public interest advocates. On one hand, the only two providers of satellite radio services, which have vigorously competed for the past five years, are seeking to consolidate, raising questions about the impact on prices and choice for consumers. On the other hand, this vigorous competition has led to a spending war for new and better programming, leaving both competitors weakened in a world where Internet radio, broadcast and HD radio, cable radio and other multi-channel music, entertainment and information services have become increasingly popular.

But regardless of the financial woes of the companies and any change in the market structure, the salient question is this: will consumers be better off? I believe that if the merger passes antitrust scrutiny, consumers will be better off if the merger is approved subject to conditions that protect consumer choice, promote diverse programming and keep prices in check.

Testimony (Written): Competition and the Future of Digital Music

Webmaster — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:48:28 -0500

This document is also available in PDF format.

Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge

Before the
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary
Antitrust Task Force

Hearing on: “Competition and the Future of Digital Music”

February 28, 2007

Chairman Conyers, Ranking Member Smith and other members of the Committee, my name is Gigi B. Sohn. I am the President of Public Knowledge, a nonprofit public interest organization that addresses the public’s stake in the convergence of communications policy and intellectual property law. I want to thank the Committee for inviting me to testify on the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Testimony of Art Brodsky Before the Maryland House of Delegates Economic Matters Committee on HB 1069

Art Brodsky — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Written Testimony of Art Brodsky
Communications Director, Public Knowledge
Before the House of Delegates Economic Matters Committee on HB 1069

This document is also available in PDF format.

Chairman Davis and members of the Committee,

I’m Art Brodsky from Public Knowledge, a Washington-based public interest group that is part of Save the Internet, a coalition of more than 800 organizations and one and a half million people who want to make sure the Internet stays open to all.

More to the point for today, I am also a resident of District 14, and Herman Taylor is my Delegate. I know there are a many politicians here who are good at working a room, but you haven’t seen anything until you see Herman work the Shoppers Food Warehouse in Olney. He should be commended for choosing to take on this bill. His is one of the most important bills in the country to address broadband issues.

Statement of Gigi B. Sohn before FTC Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy Workshop

Gigi Sohn — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:00:55 -0500

Statement of Gigi B. Sohn
President, Public Knowledge
Before the Federal Trade Commission
Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy Workshop
(as prepared)

This statement is also available in PDF format.

Before I begin, I want to the Commission for inviting me to this workshop and to Maureen Ohlhausen and Greg Luib and the Internet Access Task Force for their hard work. I’d like to give a consumer perspective on net neutrality.

Testimony: Gigi B. Sohn on "The Audio and Video Flags: Can Content Protection and Technological Innovation Coexist?"

Scott Burns — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:53:56 -0400

PK President Gigi B. Sohn testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing on “The Audio and Video Flags: Can Content Protection and Technological Innovation Coexist?”.

Gigi’s written testimony is available here (pdf).

Member statements, if available, and testimony of other witnesses is available here: http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/06272006hearing1960/hearing.htm

A transcript of Gigi’s oral testimony follows:

Testimony of Gigi B. Sohn on "The Analog Hole: Can Congress Protect Copyright and Promote Innovation?"

Scott Burns — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:25:47 -0400

PK President Gigi B. Sohn testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary on the subject of “The Analog Hole: Can Congress Protect Copyright and Promote Innovation?” on June 21, 2006.

Gigi’s written testimony is available here (pdf).

Committee member statements and the testimony of other witnesses is available from the committee’s website: http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=1956

A transcript of Gigi’s oral testimony follows: