FCC pushes net neutrality

If Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, gets his way, Internet providers will be barred from blocking their customers from downloading large video, music and software files. Martin last Friday recommended that Comcast, the nation's largest cable company and a major broadband provider, be sanctioned because it interfered with the Internet connections of customers exchanging files with other users. Martin is a strong advocate of network neutrality--the concept that Internet access providers should not control what flows over their networks. But Internet service providers want freedom to manage their networks as they see fit, saying they need to exercise controls to prevent overloads and slowdowns. Ultimately, they would like a tiered pricing schedule, charging larger users more money for their services. The FCC still must adopt Martin's recommendation for it to take effect. His plan calls for requiring Comcast to change its practices and disclose what it has already done. The broadband industry is not happy, and one could expect this fight to play out for some time in the regulatory arena, Congress, and perhaps the courts.

For more on this net fight:
- See the New York Times article