WSJ: FCC to Overhaul Regulation of Internet Lines (Yeah!!)

[Ruby the Liberal]

WASHINGTON–Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has decided to reregulate Internet lines to protect net neutrality, siding with consumer groups and Internet companies worried that Internet providers have too much power.

On Wednesday, Mr. Genachowski's staff began briefing the FCC's commissioners on how they will propose to regulate Internet lines under rules that were written for traditional phone networks. Some of those rules won't be applied to Internet networks, FCC officials say, but others will be used to enforce net neutrality, or regulations that require Internet providers to treat traffic equally and not slow or block websites.

Phone and cable companies opposed the FCC reclassifying regulation of Internet lines under Title 2 of the Communications Act, which was written for traditional phone networks and includes provisions such as rate regulations.

Internet providers fear the agency could try to impose rate controls or require them to share their networks with rivals and warned the decision could prompt them to stop investing in new Internet lines. FCC officials say Mr. Genachowski's proposal won't suggest that and that the agency will propose only applying some parts of Title 2 rules to Internet lines.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703961104575226583645448758.html

[DevonRex]

1. So they're actually going to enforce net neutrality. Thanks for the link. nt

[lazarus]

2. great news

Really great news.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Does this mean that the leaked stories about Obama abandoning Internet Neutrality were false???????

:crazy:

[DevonRex]

5. What a shock!

:rofl:

[librechik]

6. maybe the leakers didn't like the response to their trial balloon

and told the FCC to do its job the right way for once. Quien sabe?

[BrklynLiberal]

10. ...zackly...

:shrug: :hi:

[rudy23]

13. That means all of us who made noise and passed this story along did our jobs.

Well done, guys!

Maybe online actions that can be monitored are replacing polls as the closest thing we have to democracy.

[mopinko]

14. good question

i think it means don't trust what you read in the papers. or see on the tv. and especially what you read on teh intertubes.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Great news indeed.

We have to settle this once and for all. Comcast, et al, should not decide and control internet content.

[Subdivisions]

7. This is good news. Don't fuck with the Internet! n/t

[RKP5637]

9. +1000 +++ !!!, n/t

[RKP5637]

8. I hope so! It would be nice to see us over this hurtle. n/t

[AndyA]

11. So the American consumers win one for a change.

That's good to hear.

Internet companies cannot be trusted to do the right thing any more than the financial industry, petroleum industry, or pretty much any other industry based on a for profit basis.

[blogslut]

12. Good

kick

[merkins]

15. Holding applause till it's a done deal .. but color me optimistic.

After all the false moves & hopes when health-care reform went down with less then was promised I think we should be vigilant and vocal about making sure this gets done right without any compromises.