June 19, 2010

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to start the process of re-classifying high-speed Internet access as a telecommunications service, which could pave the way for adopting rules that prevent service providers from giving priority to some types of content traveling through their networks. The five-person commission voted to collect public comments about a new framework that will make Internet service providers subject to some of the same non-discrimination rules as telephone companies. FCC  Chairman Julius Genachowski has been a vocal supporter of requiring Internet providers to treat all similar Web traffic equally, an issue known as net neutrality. Such rules would prevent telecommunications companies from charging websites for speedier delivery of their content. By re-classifying broadband, the FCC would have direct authority to enforce net neutrality. The FCC ruled in 2008 that Comcast, the nation's largest cable and Internet service provider, had improperly discriminated against Internet content by blocking customers from using a file-sharing program. Signaling support for broadband service providers, the supreme court ruled this year that the FCC lacked authority from Congress to make such a ruling. Republican opponents said "the proposed new regime will place the heavy thumb of government on the scale of a free market" and stunt innovation and investment. Those concerns were echoed by Internet service provider trade groups and other Republicans. The debate over net neutrality has pitted broadband service providers, including Comcast and AT&T, against Internet companies that extol the value of free-flowing Web traffic and an open Internet.