Report: FCC ready to formalize ‘Net neutrality’ rules
September 19, 2009
WASHINGTON (ChattahBox) — Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Julius Genachowski, reportedly plans to propose new rules that would prohibit Internet service providers from interfering with the free flow of information and certain applications over their networks, essentially mandating content providers be treated equally. The Washington Post said Genachowski, will announced the proposed rules in a speech Monday at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.
The rules are expected to prevent telecommunications, cable and wireless companies from discriminating, or acting as gatekeepers, of legal Web content and applications so they can be freely accessed. Net neutrality includes the idea that Web providers shouldn’t be permitted to favor some websites by delivering their content faster than similar material from other sites. While the concept of ‘Net neutrality’ has been fought by major cable and telecom carriers, it has been supported by most public interest groups and by some industry companies, like Yahoo and Google. Companies like AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., along with many Republicans say regulations could choke investment and stem growth in the Internet. Genachowski would need to win a majority on the FCC, which will likely split down party lines as per usual pitting the average joe versus big business. Including Genachowski there are three Democrats and two Republicans on the commission.
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3 Responses to “Report: FCC ready to formalize ‘Net neutrality’ rules”
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Weren’t AOL and MSN two of those “on-line” services. It probably isn’t really a coincident you are drawing them in the first layer of the illustration.
The thought of the telecoms being able to create a layered Internet and control the flow of traffic is very disturbing.
We need net neutrality or we may never see this blog again.
[...] service providers to treat all content providers equally, over both wired and wireless connections and prohibit interference with the free flow of information and applications, by blocking services and [...]