The New FCC and Net Neutrality

There have been some amazing changes at the FCC.  First of all there is the new broadband.gov, the new fcc ideascale broadband site, where you can suggest and vote on what you think is important for the FCC to look at, and the new FCC blog. Secondly the new FCC chairman is intensely interested in broadband as a vehicle for innovation and has released a video on Youtube on his view of the importance of broadband.

Yesterday on the FCC blog Julius Genachowski has identified what he sees as a serious threat to an open internet which he sees as a threat to the internet as a major driver for innovation.  To address this problem, he has proposed that the FCC adopt two new rules in addition to four pre-existing rules.

The first is net neutrality, which says that broadband providers cannot discriminate against particular Internet content or applications.  The second says broadband providers must be transparent about their network management practices. In addition he has proposed that the FCC formally enshrine four pre-existing agency policies that say network operators cannot prevent users from accessing the lawful Internet content, applications, and services of their choice, nor can they prohibit users from attaching non-harmful devices to the network.

 The FCC has also created a new internet site, in beta, for an open interent called OpenInternet.gov, which is designed to allow you to join the discussion about a free and open Internet.