Roadstar Internet Chief Executive Officer Marty Dougherty said today that while he supports open government and federal freedom of information regulations, he joins the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association and others in opposition to an FOI lawsuit filed by the Center for Public Integrity.

The DC-area non-profit organization sued the FCC demanding to make–all–information contained on its Form 477 available to the public, including proprietary data related to how many customers a provider has in each zip code and the speeds for each customer.

The FCC requires Form 477 be filed each quarter and it can provide a blueprint to competitors where Roadstar customers are located. Dougherty says the federal agency declined CPI’s initial request for the information, citing federal FOI laws’ ability to withhold that type of data as a trade secret. CPI then filed a federal FOI lawsuit to force release of the information.

Trade organizations such as WISPA and those for major telecom and cable companies joined in opposition.

A CPI representative said the organization seeks a list of what companies provide service in specific area, but is filing the FOI action for all the information in an effort to bargain with the FCC for just the provider names.

A WISPA member contends the information, in addition to being proprietary, is not necessarily accurate and can skew public perception. Dougherty and WISPA feel the CPI lawsuit is an effort to raise awareness and media attention for the organization, as well as provide an excuse for its lawyers to get more money to extend negotiations with the FCC.

The CPI request is akin to the federal government requiring a business to provide it with a list of customers, their address and buying habits by zip code and then making that information public, Dougherty said.

“If the CPI wants to know who provides broadband connectivity in Loudoun County then they should send a representative to the planned roundtable mandated by the Board of Supervisors Economic Development Committee. They will learn what company provides what services to area of the county,” he said.

The case is now in the court of Federal Judge Ellen S. Huvelle.

For more information call: Marty Dougherty at (540) 554-2360

Or David T. Hughes Director, Corporate Communications (703) 234-9969 dhughes@roadstarinternet.com