Hillarysworld

Decision time at the FCC: Net neutrality or not? Latest reports say FCC will do the right thing.

By: Jason Rosenbaum Wednesday May 5, 2010 11:00 am

As was widely reported and criticized earlier this week, the FCC is considering abandoning net neutrality and all other kinds of broadband initiatives instead of standing up to the big cable and phone companies and asserting authority.

The method of abandonment would work like this: In the face of a DC Circuit Court ruling that the FCC has no jurisdiction to protect net neutrality under its current regulatory structure where Internet services are classified as Title I "Information Services" instead of Title II "Communications Services," the FCC would press forward on net neutrality regulation, the national broadband plan to bring Internet services to more Americans, and similar popular and important initiatives. As you might imagine given the court ruling, these initiatives would be challenged by the telecom companies in the courts and, according to leading legal scholars who spoke with reporters today, would likely be struck down.

In other words, the FCC’s reaction to this court ruling would not be to fix the problem and reclassify broadband as a Title II "Communication Service" like foreign powers such as Canada and the EU do. Instead, they would perform the regulatory equivalent of sticking their fingers in their ears and screaming, "Nah, nah! We can’t hear you!" and press ahead anyway.

That plan is doomed to fail.

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I think it is important to have net neutrality. Those holding the controls on the tap should not push one channel over others. Bing (Microsoft owned) seems to be pushing MSNBC over others even when others have broken the news. I for one prefer to read fact-laden reports that have lower bias content. Reporter's comments need to be pushed as just perspective/editorial rather than news.

If you have tracked and digested this emerging news.. please share your perspective.