By Rob Pegoraro, Washington Post
This month’s least-surprising tech-policy development played out in a protracted hearing at the Federal Communications Commission this morning. In a 3 to 2 vote, the FCC decided to write a weakened set of network-neutrality rules.
The proposal on the table was essentially the same as the limited set of net-neutrality regulations that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski floated Dec. 1 — and doesn’t differ that much in its outlines from a joint Google-Verizon proposal that was widely denounced (including in my column) this summer.
Under the new scheme, the FCC will write regulations banning all Internet providers from blocking any legal Internet sites or services. (The Motion Picture Association of America noted with pleasure that this framework allows providers to “take reasonable measures to address copyright infringement.”) The commission will also require them to document how they manage their networks, so customers, in theory, will know what kind of connection they’re getting.
If you haven’t already, check out the Leon Russell/Elton John collaberation.