Wave: What do you say to the heart patient or diabetic who is being wirelessly monitored or professionals in numerous industries who want the ability to get their information sent or received faster or more efficiently than someone who is playing a video game or watching a TV show on-line?
Mr. Inslee: I think we need to treat all bits the same, and if you have a nondiscriminatory policy, those things that need rapid access will get it. In other words, if you need to have a certain speed for your bits of information to be transmitted, you ought to be treated in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Creating tiers based on business relationships is a danger that I think exists, and that’s why we’re trying to develop a rifle shot solution to that type of problem. It’s not easy.
Wave: It could be argued that the FCC has the power to prevent that right now, with the Madison River case as a prominent example of it coming down hard when it believed harm had been done.
Mr. Inslee: If you’re a total believer, that might be good enough. I don’t think it is. I think Congress needs to statutorily define rules of the road. Somebody has got to set the rules ultimately for the long-term. The FCC changes with the administration, and I think this is important enough to have rules that are established by Congress. But you’ve pointed out arguments certainly I’m aware of and these aren’t easy
Wave: Is there anything else that you’d like to touch on? I know you’ve been an advocate for the disabled community.
Mr. Inslee: I do feel strongly about that segment of our population. If we’re lucky, we’re all temporarily abled, so to speak, and I think we all have a responsibility to make communication services available to people with challenges. I have been trying to find ways to expand access and will continue to
do so. The last thing I want to say is I truly love your industry. It’s great.
Wave: Do you have a favorite “cell” moment?
Inslee: I certainly do. We live on Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound area, and
our first son’s wedding was in our backyard. We were able to get the cell phone number of the local ferry boat captain working on one of the bridges, and just as my son and his new wife finished their first marital kiss, we called the captain and he blew the ferry boat horn. So, we had a contemporaneous sort of tribute
to my son’s marriage and an unforgettable experience, all because of your industry. To be able to do things like that, or talk to your family whenever you want… they’re just wonderful things the wireless industry allows us to do, so thank you.
"People really love what wireless does for them and it’s become a huge part of our lives. It’s extraordinary and it just keeps growing."