FCC adopts “traffic rules.”
The FCC adopted rules many are dubbing Internet “traffic rules.” This term is appropriate because it falls far short of mandating net neutrality. According to news stories, the new rules would merely ban Internet providers from completely blocking content, but would allow them to discriminate among traffic depending on the type of traffic and who was providing the content. Even these tepid rules are expected to be challenged in court, given many Republican’s resistance to any regulation of the Internet and given prior successful attempts to limit the FCC’s authority to regulate the Internet.
With Republicans in control of the House, it is highly unlikely that Congress will act with regard to net neutrality any time within the next couple of years. Ultimately, however, Congress should set rules for net neutrality so that all providers and consumers have some certainty with regard to providing Internet services. Ideally these laws will provide for strong net neutrality principles. It is time for all to recognize that 1) the Internet is regulated via ICANN, and other organizations (mostly standards-setting bodies) and that 2) the Internet is and should remain a public resource. No one person, country, company, or other entity owns the Internet, and no person, country, company, or other entity should be allowed to create a filter or bottleneck or any other obstacle to full access to the Internet based on monopoly or other coercive power.
