Internet, an open or shut case?

Despite a flurry of fervid headlines on the subject, the open Internet is not currently in danger.

In fact, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler issued an explanatory blog to the public on the day that the draft Open Internet Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was being circulated to commission members. Wheeler took pains to clarify what he was and was not proposing.

It’s true that Wheeler said that he was supporting a form of net neutrality that would allow commercial fast lanes for video Internet providers. But, he wrote:

“The Notice does not change the underlying goals of transparency, no blocking of lawful content, and no unreasonable discrimination among users established by the 2010 Rule. The Notice does follow the roadmap established by the Court as to how to enforce rules of the road that protect an Open Internet and asks for further comments on the approach.”

To make it perfectly clear, Wheeler wrote that the rulemaking notice is proposing:

•    That all ISPs must transparently disclose to their subscribers and users all relevant information as to the policies that govern their network;
•    That no legal content may be blocked; and
•    That ISPs may not act in a commercially unreasonable manner to harm the Internet, including favoring the traffic from an affiliated entity.

In response, CWA Senior Director George Kohl concurred with Wheeler’s move. Said Kohl:

“Chairman Wheeler is appropriately following the direction of the courts in drafting net neutrality rules that will prohibit blocking and unreasonable discrimination, while expanding opportunities for the job creating national broadband build out Americans desire.”

Setting the Record Straight on the FCC’s Open Internet Rules (Wheeler FCC Blog, Apr. 24, 2014)

CWA Statement on FCC’s Work on Draft Net Neutrality Rules (CWA news release, Apr. 25, 2014)