Net Neutrality

FCC Chairman Genachowski has shown support for network neutrality, which means equal access to the Internet for all Web site owners. Copps agrees with Genachowski.

In 2005, the FCC passed the Internet Policy Statement that contained four principals. These principals guaranteed consumers access to their choice of lawful Internet content, the ability to run applications and services of their choice, the chance to connect legal devices to open networks and to have options when choosing an Internet provider.

Copps wants to add a non-discrimination principal, in order to assure web site owners do not face extra fees or slow connection speeds. The web site owner would report incidences of discrimination to the FCC and the commission would rule based on previous judgments. "Over time you would establish something analogous to case law," said Copps.

It appears that Copps may get his wish. In Sept. 2009, Genachowski proposed two new principles to the Internet Policy Statement. One of the new principals is that broadband providers can't discriminate against any Internet content or application. Copps said he supported the proposed rules.

Media Deregulation

In 2001, then-FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell (R) was pushing hard to deregulate the media industry. Some of these successful measures included getting rid of the ban against one company owning a television station and a newspaper in the same market and increasing the percentage of the nation that one television station can reach to 45 percent. Copps strongly opposed Powell's rules. "I'm glad they won't be remembered as the Copps rules," said Copps. "I think we are damaging localism, diversity and competition, making it harder for alternative viewpoints and information to see the light of day."

But being in the minority, Copps had very little firepower against the Republican majority so he decided to go on the road and personally get his message out to voters. He urged Powell to hold public hearings on the rules. Powell agreed to only one hearing. Copps decided to attended 13 unofficial hearings.

Copps' efforts didn't affect the FCC vote; Powell's rules passed the commission by a 3-to-2 vote. But shortly after the vote, the public grew angry and Congress heard the cries. Congress pulled back the cap on TV companies owning stations that reach 45 percent of the nation to 35 percent. Federal judges slowed the rest of "Powell's rules," sending the final vote back to the FCC to reconsider the widespread deregulation.

Content Police

Since joining the FCC, Copps has tried to increase regulation of indecent material on the airwaves. During his first three years, he had little luck in finding support for the cause. But after Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl, where Justin Timberlake's suction-cup grip pulled a piece of clothing off Jackson revealing her right breast during the live halftime show, Copps suddenly found supporters at the FCC.

Shortly after the Jackson incident, the House passed a bill that increased the maximum amount the FCC can fine indecency violations from $27,500 to $500,000 and increased the commission's power to include revoking licenses for repeat offenders. Copps wanted to go further. Broadcast license renewals happen every eight years, and have been dubbed "postcard renewals," due to the ease in which TV stations receive new licenses. Copps wants to instill some fear in stations that provide indecent or inappropriate material on the airwaves.

"I'm not trying to establish a national nanny here, but we only have to send one case to [license] hearings and the message would go forth to broadcasters all over the U.S. that this is a new era," said Copps. "Right now, [broadcasters] not only don't fear us, they don't respect us, either."

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