Net Neutrality in 2010?

In September 2005, the FCC published a policy statement regarding rules for the Internet. There were four "Internet freedoms" approved at this time:

• Consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice
• Consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement
• Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network
• Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.

Fast forward to October 22, 2009. The FCC released their draft proposal to make the principles binding with the addition of two new items:

• A provider of broadband Internet access service must treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner
• A provider of broadband Internet access service must disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application, and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in this rulemaking

A lively debate has ensued between Internet companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook and the VC community (pro net neutrality) versus the telco and cable providers (anti-net neutrality). What's interesting about this debate is how both sides will say the same thing but from completely different view points.

The Open Internet Coalition writes on their web site: "The Open Internet Coalition seeks to ensure that the transmission of Internet traffic remains open, accessible and fast, and does not favor one particular brand or type of content over another."

AT&T sent an email to their employees asking for support against net neutrality and closes with this statement: "Thank you in advance for taking action that supports our customers, our company, and our country's commitment to ensure that every American has access to broadband."

Both sound pretty reasonable, right? Without going into all the reasons why, I have to side with the pro net neutrality camp. Net neutrality boils down to making sure that the Internet gatekeepers, that is, all the Internet Service Providers, telcos, and cable providers are unable to restrict access to content or degrade performance in any way. I tend to agree with Google's “Internet Evangelist” Vint Cerf, who wrote that, “The Internet was designed to maximize user choice and competition, and we’ve all benefited immensely as a result…today the FCC took an important step in protecting that environment and ensuring that the Internet remains a platform for innovation, economic growth and free expression.”

We don't need toll booths on the road to the Internet. With the steps that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has taken, we may see 2010 as the year that an open Internet becomes the rule of law.