FCC Denies Two-Tier Internet

The newly-appointed chairman of the FCC has dashed the hopes of ISPs who wanted to develop a two-tier system that would have allowed them to decide which applications, activities, sites, and users received more bandwidth. For years now, many ISPs and communications networks have favored a system which would allow them to deprecate the bandwidth non-paying Netizens use, as well as for those using bandwidth-sucking apps and services, such as streaming media. The Chairman said "all Web traffic should be treated equally." This is the first time chairman Julius Genachowski has spoken on the matter.

While it may sound like a Socialist declaration in direct opposition to the fundaments of a Capitalist society, the firms in favor of such a system would waste no time making deals with the companies of various services and apps - creating "packages" of "preferred" programs and services - which would severely curtail both the expansion and improvement of the internet, which he called a "vital... engine of innovation, economic growth, competition and democratic engagement." For as anti-Democratic as his edicts may seem on the surface, this is the only way to ensure fair-use and internet access for all consumers; otherwise, those who cannot afford high-priced, "top-shelf" internet service packages would no longer be able to watch video, listen to music, and more.

"I believe the FCC must be a smart cop on the beat preserving a free and open internet. This is not about government regulation of the internet," he added. "It's about fair rules of the road for companies that control access to the internet," Chairman Genachowski said.

This concept of "Net neutrality" was championed by President Obama during his campaign and is even supported by online monopoly, Google!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009