Transcript of Robert Dole's Statement
April 20, 1998
Pro Comp Press Conference
This document is a complete transcript, as delivered by Robert Dole.  Dole spoke following Mike Pettit, and before Judge Robert Bork.

Let me follow on to what Mike pointed -- just indicated as well.

I think that it is fair to say that the Internet promises to become the newest and biggest market in our economy, and access to it ought not be controlled by any one company.  If anyone builds a toll booth to charge admission to the Internet, consumers are the ones who will inevitably suffer.

Microsoft apparently enjoys a monopoly that controls more than 90% of the desktop computers on the market today.  They may have earned that monopoly through legal aggressive competition, but they cannot be allowed to violate antitrust laws that protect consumers, by using that monopoly to then stifle competition, slow down innovation, and leverage itself into monopolies in other markets.

By controlling the user interface, which is what users first see on their computers, Microsoft controls access to the explosion of information and services found on the Internet

Microsoft already exploits that position to direct consumers to its own content sites.   The disadvantage to consumers (___?) fair choice, Mr. Pettit talked about. The company executives have stated publicly that they also intend to charge a fee for each commercial transaction accomplished through the use of their controlling software.   This is also unfair to consumers.

I believe that the Justice Department is doing the right thing by investigating practices such as these.  And this project, the project promotes competition and innovation in the digital age, was formed to educate the general public and policy makers about this very, very, important issue.

We welcome the help and participation of any group of individuals who share our concern for the future of competition and innovation in electronic commerce.

And I can tell you from first hand experience that there are many companies out there who support our efforts quietly, but are afraid to do so publicly.  And this is proof of Microsoft's market power.  This is a very troubling public policy question itself.

Thankyou very much.

Judge Bork.