Verizon Quotes Go Missing from FCC Blog

In August of last year the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created a blog-like set of pages on its Web site focused on its plans to improve broadband in America. The topics have rarely touched on public safety until earlier this year, when the politics of the FCC’s plans became important. The latest entry contains quotes from various people endorsing the Commission’s plans for the D Block of radio spectrum, under the headline that began, “Momentum Building for FCC Plan…” The story by Dep. PSHS Bureau Chief Jennifer Manner used quotes, including from three former FCC officials. But one block of quotes is now missing from the original story. Verizon V-P and chief Counsel Steve Zipperstein was originally  quoted saying that, “Verizon Wireless supports the Commission’s recommendation and stands ready to work with public safety.” However, Zipperstein’s remarks weren’t made as an direct endorsement, but were stripped from his June 2010 testimony to a Congressional subcommittee about the broadband plan and posted in the FCC’s blog. Read the blog entry in its current form here, view how Zipperstein’s quotes were originally posted here, and then download (pdf) Zipperstein’s full testimony here for Verizon’s full position.