FCC to Propose 'Net Neutrality' Rules

[jefferson_dem]

Source: WSJ

The head of the Federal Communications Commission will propose new rules to prevent Internet providers from selectively blocking or slowing Web traffic, a move that could set off a battle with phone and cable companies that don't want the government telling them how to run their networks.

In a speech Monday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is expected to outline proposals for new rules that would require Internet providers to treat all legal Web traffic equally, according to people familiar with the proposal. The rules would also be extended to include wireless arms of giants like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. as well as cable providers like Comcast Corp.

Currently, some wireless Internet providers prevent consumers from using some bandwidth-heavy Internet applications, like video file-sharing services, because of concerns they will slow networks.

If adopted, rules to promote so-called net neutrality could be a win for consumers who want to get movies online or access big data files, and in turn benefit Internet companies like Google Inc. that want to offer new video or other services online. Internet commerce companies have been among the most vocal supporters of government action to prevent selective hobbling of Internet traffic, and they welcomed President Barack Obama's pledges during the campaign to enact stronger "net neutrality" rules.

The FCC currently has four so-called net neutrality principles, which call on Internet providers to treat all legal Internet data equally. The FCC has sought to prohibit companies from deliberately blocking or slowing traffic, based on those principles, but it hasn't adopted formal rules.


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125329467451823485.html

[and-justice-for-all]

1. We need more regulation over this corporate monsters..nt

[liberal N proud]

3. Like your Health Care sticker

[and-justice-for-all]

5. Get one over at evolvefish.com only 2 bucks. nt

[MercutioATC]

2. Devil's advocate:

If people pay for different levels of service, those who use more pay more...and the user who just wants to look up a recipe and get e-mail pays less.

If a provider is legally mandated to provide the same level of access to everybody, everybody will pay more, especially the low-bandwidth user.

[DCKit]

7. No. You'd get the speed you pay for. No more, no less. n/t

[MercutioATC]

12. Speed doesn't wholly reflect usage.

Somebody with 1mbps service can easily "use" more than somebody with 5mbps service.

If a company chooses to limit bandwidth under certain plans, I think that's their right.

[DCKit]

14. "Bandwidth" is speed at the volume you pay for, not volume per month.

If I'm paying for 7, 13 or 20 Mbps, I damn sure better have 7,13 or 20 Mbps 24/7 REGARDLESS of how much data I'm downloading. If Internet providers can't provide the speeds advertised and which people are paying to receive, then they should limit the number of customers they sign to their service.

You and I disagree on this, so let's leave it at that.

[BlueJazz]

4. "companies that don't want the government telling them how to run...".

Yeah, well..."We the People" ARE the Government. If you don't like having to abide by the Rules then,
Hit the Road, Jack..there's lots of Companies that will be glad to take your place and won't have any trouble being fair with their Customers.

[ixion]

6. ironically, they were perfectly happy to use their networks to spy on us illegally

when asked to do so by the government.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kickety poo and a recommendation.

Thanks for the thread, jefferson_dem.

[Vidar]

9. Good.

[starroute]

10. Many tea party supporters are also net neutrality opponents

I was curious about the groups that sponsored the 9.12 protest, and when I googled on their names, a surprising number also turned out to be members of something called the "Internet Freedom Coalition," founded in 2006 to oppose net netrality.

This includes the Institute for Liberty, Americans for Tax Reform, the American Conservative Union, the Center for Individual Freedom, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Citizens Against Government Waste, the National Taxpayers Union, and RightMarch.com.

The obvious conclusion is that the primary backers of both the tea party protests and the overturn of net neutrality are not only powerful corporate interests but the very same corporate interests.

[SpartanDem]

11. K&R

[Thrill]

13. This is nice but the real problem is in too many areas, You are forced to take either ATT or TWC

for internet service. Its simply no competition. The FCC under Bush let these two buy up all the competition its sad.