FCC Proposes Net Neutrality Law, McCain Announces Bill to Block It

The FCC has begun to move forward in its attempt to make net neutrality law. At the same time Senator John McCain has introduced a bill to block it.

This morning at around 10am the FCC announced a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in regards to Net Neutrality.

The six principles are below:


“Under the draft rules, subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not:
1) prevent any of its users from sending or receiving the lawful content of the user’s choice over the Internet;
2) prevent any of its users from running the lawful applications or using the lawful services of the user’s choice;
3) prevent any of its users from connecting to and using on its network the user’s choice of lawful devices that do not harm the network;
4) deprive any of its users of the user’s entitlement to competition among network providers, application providers, service providers, and content providers.
5) A provider of broadband Internet access service must treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner.
6) 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.”

Gizmodo is reporting that the five commissioners have voted with Genachowski, Clyburn & Copps in favor. Baker & McDowell dissent in part, concur in part.

In response, Senator John McCain has introduced a new bill dubbed the Internet Freedom Act of 2009 which would keep the FCC from enforcing its new rules on ISPs.

McCain says net neutrality would “stifle innovation, in turn slowing our economic turnaround and further depressing an already anemic job market.” He also believes that the lack of government intervention has been central to the growth of the wireless industry.


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