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FCC Backs Away From Further Internet Regulation

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 April 2008, 00:20 CDT

U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin said Tuesday his agency has sufficient authority to prevent discrimination by Internet service providers.

"I do not believe any additional regulations are needed at this time," Martin said, during testimony at a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee.

The Commission had previously conducted two hearings on the issue of “network management”, following admissions by Comcast Corp that it had delayed file-sharing traffic for some of its subscribers in order to control Web traffic.    

The Senate hearing was called amid great interest in the issue of "network neutrality", the notion that network owners will not interfere with Internet traffic.

During Tuesday’s Senate hearing, it became clear the net neutrality debate was fractured along party lines, with Democrats largely supporting the principle, and Republicans mostly opposed.

"It is a political division now and it's getting more so," said Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK).

"It is unfortunate," he told the AP, adding that a return to "intense [Internet] regulation" is "entirely unwarranted."

The hearing included some celebrity appearances, such as Justine Bateman, best known for her role on the popular Family Ties sitcom . Bateman is now a founding partner of an online media firm.

"The idea of your site succeeding or failing based upon whether or not you paid the telecom companies enough to carry your material or allow quick access is appalling," Bateman told the Senate committee.

Patric Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West, also spoke in favor of net neutrality.  The Writers Guild ended a 100-day strike recently that nearly halted all television production. Verrone told the Associated Press that the Internet had been valuable in organizing the writers.

"When your employers are the same companies that control the media, it's hard to get your message out," he said.

According to Verrone, a producer and television writer for over 20 years, during the campaign guild members used e-mail, blog postings  and videos to stay in touch with one another.  The campaign’s success drove Verrone to Washington to push for legislation he hopes will secure the Internet's status as an open communications forum.

Verrone supports legislation proposed by Sens. Olympia Snowe, (R-ME), and Byron Dorgan, D-ND), that would mandate network operators to treat all Internet traffic the same.

Large telecom and cable network owners oppose net neutrality, claiming it is unnecessary and adds a layer of regulation that would harm consumers. The companies maintain it is a solution looking for a problem.

Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA), described the picture painted by net neutrality advocates as "a complete fantasy."

McSlarrow added that out of the tens of millions of daily Internet users, "no one is being blocked" and if they are, they are free to switch to a competitive provider.

But Verrone wants Washington to guarantee that the owners of the largest U.S. networks do not disrupt the free exchange of ideas.

"The only thing bigger than corporations in this country is the government," he said. "So we think we have to make clear to legislators that we need somebody making sure that that pipe is neutral."

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On the Net:

Federal Communications Commission

Writers Guild of America

National Cable and Telecommunications Association

Source: redOrbit Staff and Wire Reports

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