Network neutrality a step closer

Posted on May 27, 2006
Filed Under Public Policy |

It’s one of those great ironies in our world that a well functioning deregulated marketplace actually requires more regulation than a regulated one. The debate around network neutrality is not immune to this and it’s a complex issue that requires a lot of study to understand, but unfortunately it’s just easier to read the highlight and say “well of course a network that cannot be discriminatory against devices or uses is a good thing,” but it’s really not that easy. The points about who in government has the authority to regulate telecommunication networks is equally important and that appears to be one of the main pivots points in bills working their way through Congress now.

The 1996 Telecommunications Reform Act has largely been a bust because the FCC has been unwilling to enforce the intent of the legislation, the Clinton and Bush administrations have been unwilling to empower the FCC to do it, and Congress has been silent. Given all that, I’m not sure I can have much confidence that things will be different this time around, but having said all that I’m even less confident in the newly monopolized telecom companies operating in any way but what best serves their bottom line so having something like network neutrality is something I support.

Network neutrality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
On May 25, 2006, the Sensenbrenner-Conyers Net Neutrality Bill was approved by the House Judiciary committee on a 20-13 vote along party lines. The bill was widely regarded as part of a turf battle between the Judiciary Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee for the power to regulate the Internet. Congressman Adam Schiff, one of the Democrats who voted for it, said: I think the bill is a blunt instrument, and yet I think it does send a message that it’s important to attain jurisdiction for the Justice Department and for antitrust issues.

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