John Kerry

It is wrong that seven million Americans in small towns like Monroe and in sections of the western part of my State enjoy no broadband service at all.

I find it unacceptable that Americans in big cities like Boston don't enjoy the prices or level of service common in cities in South Korea or Japan.

I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words in support of his nomination to become the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

It would be a game-changer. It is very much in American interests to have a comprehensive peace settlement in the region.

If I am confirmed, I would expect to press the Syrians hard on this issue.

Diplomacy is not a prize. It is something we do to advance our interests.

I have long argued that America's national security interests are well served by engaging with Syria.

To succeed, we must present Damascus with a clear choice and a vision of a different future.

Syria would be on much firmer footing if it instead builds meaningful ties with America.

His success in this new post will be vital.

Our policy is clear. We seek a just and comprehensive peace, a peace that would be in the interest of our friends in Israel and in the interest of our friends in the Arab region and the broader international community.

We need an Ambassador now because we are at such a pivotal moment.

Clearly, we have serious issues with Syria still to be resolved.

We have been urging the Syrians to support our efforts to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The administration's decision to send an Ambassador to Damascus marks an important step forward in that process.

I have confidence that the Chairman of the FCC and the Assistant Attorney General for antitrust are going to conduct a fair review and, if needed, impose sensible conditions on it.

And Mr. Chairman, how do we ensure that independent programmers who have competing content have some effective redress under the nondiscriminatory protections in the Cable Act?

Should we consider the Internet as a possible standalone alternative for multichannel television service delivery?

I think many of us are frustrated by the length of time it takes to get business decisions out of Government.

Do you have a perception of what mechanism, if any, might be used to resolve this?

I try to focus on the consumers and encourage the market to maximize consumer access to content and to try to discourage prices from escalating without commensurate consumer benefits.

And can you share with me, just as a matter of principle, do you think that consumers should lose access to broadcast programming when the broadcasters and the cable providers fail to reach an agreement?

We all know that without that, big mergers can distort a market. They can reduce consumer choice, drive up prices.

If we don't get these countries to the point where they can stand on their own two feet and take care of their own people and work themselves away from total dependency, we're not doing right by them.

My goal in Haiti in this reconstruction is to be able to go to Haiti as a tourist, where all they need from me is to pay my bills.