In a move aimed at solidifying the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority over the fast-growing broadband industry Chairman Julius Genachowski last week proposed putting Internet service providers (ISPs) into the same category as telephone companies. The proposal would entail more oversight, but would prevent government control over Web services, applications and e-commerce sites.
(Background note: A Washington DC circuit court last month decided that cable operator Comcast could discriminate against peer-to-peer network traffic in an attempt to limit bandwidth consumption and manage its network)
By reclassifying broadband providers, the FCC hopes to be able to carry out its plans to create regulations that would expand Internet access nationwide and require companies that get consumers onto the Web to treat all online traffic equally.
In response Rep.Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), a member of the House Communications, Technology and Internet subcommittee. yesterday introduced a bill that would make it harder for the FCC to create new regulations for the broadband industry.
Which side are you on? Does the Internet require regulation and should ISPs have to treat all their services equally (the so-called Net Neutrality concept)?
