Federal Communications Commission Proposal Disappointing

After ISPs were caught blocking customers’ access to cost-effective telephone services like Skype and intentionally degrading the performance of peer-to-peer file sharing software like BitTorrent, the need for network neutrality protections became clear. Julius Genachowski was appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission and he promised to introduce regulation that would prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from discriminating against or blocking lawful online content. Disappointingly, reports NJ Today, Genachowski's network neutrality proposal is littered with loopholes. The proposal fails to restore FCC authority over ISPs, which all but ensures court challenges to any attempt at enforcing network neutrality.

“Public involvement in the net neutrality fight will be a critical factor in determining whether or not the FCC can pass an improved network neutrality law. Indeed, public involvement on network neutrality — perhaps best exemplified by the Save The Internet coalition — was critical in overcoming the flood of ISP lobbying money and keeping the issue alive over the past few years when pundits dismissed it as dead or at least on life support. This final phase of the policy fight over network neutrality is no different; the future of the internet is literally in your hands.”

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