Intellectual Property Law

FCC Shuns ISP's to Embrace Net Neutrality

By Steve Cosentino

A little over two plus years after the FTC took a pass on jumping into the net neutrality battle, the FCC has decided to carry the net neutrality banner.  The Wall Street Journal reported that the FCC is proposing new rules embracing equal treatment for all types of internet content.  Under the proposed rules, ISPS would be prohibited from blocking or slowing content based on its type or profitability. 

Winners in this battle would be entrepreneurs who look for fast growth in users but typically don't have the capital to invest in a pay to play system.  ISPs would end up on the losing end, giving up some of their autonomy over their content.  Although ISP's have yet to engage in widespread blocking or slowing, they have made use of their control over bandwith in instances such as AT&T's blocking of Skype.  Also in the losing corner would be businesses with a need to move data faster and the resources to pay for priority. 

The net neutrality battle will present an intersting dillemma for an information superhighway that cuts its way through everyone's back yard. 

Full post as published by The TechKnowledgy Blog on October 23, 2009 (boomark / email).