Tom Wheeler Defeats the Broadband Industry: Net Neutrality Wins In Court (bloomberg.com)

Andrew M Harris and Todd Shields, reporting for Bloomberg: The Federal Communications Commission won a major appeals court ruling supporting its efforts to prevent broadband Internet service providers from favoring some types of web traffic over others. The Washington-based court Tuesday denied challenges to the federal government's so-called net neutrality regulations, which were backed by President Barack Obama. The ruling hands a victory to those who champion the notion of an open internet where service providers are prevented from offering speedier lanes to content providers willing to pay for them. It's a defeat for challengers including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., which said the rule would discourage innovation and investment.FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, "Today's ruling is a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire web, and it ensures the Internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth. After a decade of debate and legal battles, today's ruling affirms the Commission's ability to enforce the strongest possible internet protections -- both on fixed and mobile networks -- that will ensure the internet remains open, now and in the future."

Comments

Major Loss for Internet Freedom

[Anonymous Coward]

Also a major loss for internet freedom generally. The big issue in the case was whether the government could classify the internet as a Title II communications carrier - which allowed it to dramatically expand the type of regulation it is subject to. Net neutrality light was just a first step and will be looked back as the first time the FCC became the "Department of the Internet."

Re:Traffic lanes designated to buses or bicycles n

[mi]

To correct your metaphor you'd need to distinguish the vehicles on the road by brand, not by their capabilities.

The government, that maintains the roads, gives priority to the buses, which it also runs, how is that? For another, the government, which wants everybody to pay tolls electronically (to make it easier to track citizens' movements), gives priority to cars that have E-ZPass installed.

The problem with Internet Service Provision is lack of competition. Adding more and more regulation only helps the incumbents ward off would-be challengers.