Currently, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) three liberal-leaning commissioners are poised to force through new federal regulatory control over the Internet through so-called “network neutrality” regulations, and it appears they may succeed.
This channel has not changed regardless of the fact that a majority in Congress made it clear that the FCC should cease its efforts, that all available facts argue against FCC intervention, or that no matter how many times and how many ways the FCC asks the question, the public says “NO, don’t regulate the Internet”—with one of the responses at 71 percent to 29 percent.
Key stakeholders who have been at odds on this issue are even hinting at compromise. A course was set at IPI’s Communications Summit last November, where Amazon’s vice president for global public policy, Paul Misener, was clear in his comments that he was concerned about arbitrary prioritization that harms other users’ online experience. Even so, he agreed that network operators should be able to manage their networks to provide the best product for all consumers and should be free to try new business models. Recently, on CNet, Misener furthered his thoughts suggesting a way for all to win by allowing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to sell managed services to content providers so long as that does not harm other content.
Navigating the same waters, Google, Verizon and Comcast all have tried to avoid the regulatory shoals and have sought some agreement. Now, AT&T has signaled via its policy blog that progress may be possible. Of course, most everyone is urging that the practical need for network operation and management trump ideological agendas.
All the major parties in this policy struggle seem to be destined to reach agreement, leaving those three commissioners and a couple of left-wing groups in their wake. But, will the FCC keep a steady hand at the tiller?
If not, the people might wonder why the flow of the Internet has been dammed up or redirected by government, wrecking the continued success of a wave of broadband availability and adoption.