FCC decides to toughen Internet fairness

The FCC has quietly made the decision today to reclassify Internet access as a telecommunication service that would be subject to tougher net neutrality rules. Although rumors had spread of the agency backtracking on its promise, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski is now said to be readying a proposal that would put Internet lines under the same Title II "common carriage" rules as phone lines, requiring providers to treat data equally on the network. Not all of the same rules would apply, but which would be exempted weren't known.

Government officials have claimed that Genachowski wouldn't force some of the more contentious points of Title II, such as a mandatory allowance for other ISPs to run on the network or any rate regulation. However, the measures would prevent those running landline and possibly wireless access from slowing down or blocking specific apps and sites.

Telecom firms like AT&T and Verizon have often staunchly opposed any attempts at regulation and have often threatened retaliation if forced into more, such as by slowing down expansion and upgrades or by increasing rates. Verizon has lately been more flexible and has sided with Google in some areas, but only as long as it's allowed to apply 'reasonable' network management.

Countering arguments, however, have noted that carriers have often tried to throttle traffic until caught and usually drop prices or increase speeds when pressure exists from more companies in the area. Comcast was slowing and often blocking BitTorrent until an FCC investigation and has implemented a more neutral scheme ever since. Verizon's own FiOS network, and public services like a Louisiana fiber optic network, have often resulted in better performance for the money on competing networks, but usually only in those areas.

If applied to wireless, Title II could prevent attempts by carriers to block streaming video or VoIP apps. Verizon has lately stirred controversy in the area by preventing its network-specific version of Skype from working over 3G, instead chewing into a customer's regular minutes. A reclassification could force it to allow full Internet calling. [via WSJ, sub. required]

By Electronista Staff