A better idea for Net neutrality
The most controversial communications policy topic today is Net
neutrality.
This is the notion, peddled actively in Washington by Google,
Amazon, Microsoft, and Yahoo, along with self-styled "consumer"
groups, that broadband network operators such as AT&T and cable
operators such as Comcast must not be allowed to discriminate among
content providers or favor their own content. The Net neutrality
proponents even argue that the nondiscrimination prohibition should
apply to wireless and all other technology platforms that deliver
Internet access to consumers. Unfortunately, the Net neutrality
forces appear to be gathering strength just as the broadband
marketplace is becoming vigorously competitive, rendering a new
government Internet mandate unnecessary. Adoption of a broad Net
neutrality prohibition will impose monopoly-era
public-utility-style regulation on new broadband services in an era
characterized by competition.
Witness the bill (S. 2360) introduced on March 2 by Sen. Ron Wyden,
a Democrat from Oregon. His "Internet Non-Discrimination Act of
2006" provides that a network operator "shall not interfere with,
block, degrade, alter, modify, impair, or change any bits, content,
application or service transmitted over the network of such
operator." Nor shall it "discriminate in favor of itself or any
other person, including any affiliate or company with such operator
has a business relationship in (A) allocating bandwidth; and (B)
transmitting content or applications or services to or from a
subscriber."