FCC chairman gets bipartisan grilling over Net neutrality proposal

[Jefferson23]

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler on Tuesday faced bipartisan criticism from House members concerning proposed new rules governing Internet traffic, highlighting the controversy over his attempt to steer a middle path in the Net neutrality debate.

Republicans said Wheeler's plan goes too far, threatening to stifle the Internet's growth.


"The Internet has flourished under the current light-touch regulatory scheme, and subjecting it to burdensome regulations is a leap in the wrong direction," Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told Wheeler at an oversight hearing.

Many Democrats think Wheeler's effort doesn't go far enough in asserting stronger regulatory powers to prevent broadband providers from charging companies more for higher-speed delivery of their content.

"Paid prioritization divides the Internet into haves and have-nots, and it will entrench the big companies at the expense of start-ups," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills).

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-net-neutrality-fcc-wheeler-congress-20140520-story.html

[msongs]

1. Can the death of the internet be averted? Will Obamanet be defeated? $$ talks. stay tuned nt