Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

FCC's 'Open Internet' rules come under fire

23 September 2009 17:51 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 7 comments

The Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) proposals to ensure all traffic on the Internet is treated equally has come under fire from some wireless providers and politicians. The FCC wants to ensure that Internet Service Providers (ISP) cannot slow down or block bandwidth-hungry usage such as video streaming.

However, mobile operators claim that this new regulation would serve to damage innovation in the industry. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said that doing nothing was not an option, and previously stated that the rules were "not about government regulation of the Internet".

"History's lesson is clear. Ensuring a robust and open internet is the best thing we can do to promote investment and innovation," he said. "And while there are some who see every policy decision as either pro-business or pro-consumer, I reject that approach; it's not the right way to see technology's role in America."

However, the inclusion of wireless Internet traffic upset some in the industry. "We are concerned the FCC appears ready to extend the entire array of net neutrality requirements to what is perhaps the most competitive consumer market in America - wireless services," said AT&T's Jim Cicconi.

"The internet in America has been a phenomenal success that has spawned technological and business innovation unmatched anywhere else in the world," said David Cohen, executive vice-president at Comcast. "So it's still fair to ask whether increased regulation of the internet is a solution in search of a problem."

Verizon said that the FCC has no reason to impose new regulations that would limit consumer choice. Also opposing the "Open Internet" rules were some Republicans. The two Republicans on the FCC's board said they were unconvinced that there was widespread problems of ISPs blocking or limiting traffic in the country to justify new regulations.

In the U.S. Senate, six senators also introduced a measure that would cut the FCC's funding to develop new regulatory mandates. However, there was just as much support for the FCC's new proposals as there was opposition. Vint Cerf, often referred to as the "Father of the Internet", applauded the FCC's new proposals.

"The FCC took an important step in ensuring that the internet remains a platform for innovation, economic growth, and free expression," he commented on a blog. Outside of the industry, consumer groups also cheered it as a positive for Internet users in the country.

"This is a tremendous day for millions of us who have been clamouring to keep the internet free from discrimination," said Josh Silver, executive director of advocacy group Free Press.

Permalink to this article

FCC seeks input on wireless spectrum needs (28 September 2009)

AT&T blasts Google Voice in new FCC letter (26 September 2009)

FCC head wants internet competition and ISP transparency (21 September 2009)

Google letter to FCC points finger for app rejection at Apple (19 September 2009)

AT&T files FCC complaint against Cablevision (13 August 2009)

AT&T points finger at Apple for rejection of Google Voice App (5 August 2009)

« Previous news article
Controversial broadband tax in UK will be law

Next news article »
Intel shows 22nm SRAM chip

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
ThePastor (Junior Member) 23 September 2009 18:06
I have a dream... I dream that one day Internet, Broad band service will be a service which stands alone, independant of platform or device. I dream that I can use my AT&T phone to connect to Verizon's Data service if I wish. I dream that if I wish to install... "Santa does Dallas... The Game" on my Iphone/Blackberry/WinMobile phone I will not be told that "This app does not pass our standards" I dream of a day that "Unlimited" means "Unlimited" and that includes "continuous video/audo streaming" Not, "unlimited" until we say that it's too much... I have a dream... [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 23 September 2009 18:29
*Originally posted by ThePastor:* I have a dream... I dream that one day Internet, Broad band service will be a service which stands alone, independant of platform or device. I dream that I can use my AT&T phone to connect to Verizon's Data service if I wish. I dream that if I wish to install... "Santa does Dallas... The Game" on my Iphone/Blackberry/WinMobile phone I will not be told that "This app does not pass our standards" I dream of a day that "Unlimited" means "Unlimited" and that includes "continuous video/audo streaming" Not, "unlimited" until we say that it's too much... I have a dream... Preach on brother preach on! [ + quote]
Tristan_2 (Junior Member) 23 September 2009 18:32
And I was freaking Hoping I was finnaly able to finnaly use my Nintendo Wi-Fi Adaptor to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi for a few of my DS games........BUT OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOOOOO COMCAST HAS BLOCKED THAT USE unlike Verizon BUT FOR ALL 3 COMPANIES ORIGINALY JUST COMCAST TO BAND UP INCLUDING 6 STUPID SENATORS TO BLOCK WHAT THE FCC IS TRYING TO DO A GOOD THING FOR ONCE IS COMPlETE BULL, I wouldn't use a lot of caps even if I was angry but this has me more angry then all the crap I have seen happen when it comes to courts and all that lawsuit stuff in the summer...this tops the freakin cake. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 23 September 2009 18:36
*Originally posted by Tristan_2:* And I was freaking Hoping I was finnaly able to finnaly use my Nintendo Wi-Fi Adaptor to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi for a few of my DS games........BUT OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOOOOO COMCAST HAS BLOCKED THAT USE unlike Verizon BUT FOR ALL 3 COMPANIES ORIGINALY JUST COMCAST TO BAND UP INCLUDING 6 STUPID SENATORS TO BLOCK WHAT THE FCC IS TRYING TO DO A GOOD THING FOR ONCE IS COMPlETE BULL, I wouldn't use a lot of caps even if I was angry but this has me more angry then all the crap I have seen happen when it comes to courts and all that lawsuit stuff in the summer...this tops the freakin cake. Well lets just say the stupid gas the government was gassing the people with was changed when obama came into office, from a kind of placid bliss to OMG the government is really trying to help us for once we must stop this nonsense!!!111 My god they should switch back to the old stuff.... [ + quote]
ivymike (Member) 23 September 2009 20:56
"I have a dream... I dream that one day Internet, Broad band service will be a service which stands alone, independant of platform or device. I dream that I can use my AT&T phone to connect to Verizon's Data service if I wish. I dream that if I wish to install... "Santa does Dallas... The Game" on my Iphone/Blackberry/WinMobile phone I will not be told that "This app does not pass our standards" I dream of a day that "Unlimited" means "Unlimited" and that includes "continuous video/audo streaming" Not, "unlimited" until we say that it's too much..." Add the use of P2P software without risk of persecution or lawsuit to that 'I have a dream'. [ + quote]
fgamer (Member) 23 September 2009 23:01
Why is it that it's always a damn republican trying to thwart something good from happening when it's for the better of the people? "Affordable health care" for all...no that's a horrible idea (let people keep going to the emergency room treating it like a doctors office)..."open internet" where ISP's can't discriminate...no that's a horrible idea (ISP's obviously don't make enough money as it is so lets let them capitalize on having complete reign on what you can and cannot see and do online). Screw over the little-average guy and let big companies make the decisions...yeah that's a terrific idea!!! It's funny because when there's finally somebody good in the White House people don't know how to act/appreciate it. If you think Obama and his administration are evil because they're looking out for the little guy or the constantly screwed over guy..maybe we should all go back to the Bush era where shit wasn't gettin done and the catering to big companies for self preservation was more important than that of the people who struggle from day to day. You never know what you got until you lost it..and people will definitely realize that when we get the good ol self centered republicans back in office. OK, rant is over!! [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 23 September 2009 23:03
Currently because the dims are busy trying to make as much money as they can behind the sences since the reapers did that the last 8 years. [ + quote]