PCMag.Com - Pending net neutrality rules for Internet service providers are necessary because current antitrust regulations don't do enough to encourage innovation and maintain the openness of the Internet, the head of the Federal Communications Commission told Congress Thursday.
"Antitrust enforcement is expensive to pursue, takes a long time and kicks in only after damage is done," FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said at a congressional hearing, according to reports.
Last December, the FCC approved rules that would ban ISPs from unreasonably discriminating against lawful network traffic or blocking lawful content, applications, service, and non-harmful devices on fixed networks. Wireless providers would be banned from blocking access to lawful Web sites or blocking applications that compete with their own voice or video telephony services. That rule would not apply to mobile broadband app stores.
Providers of both fixed and wireless networks would also be required to publicly disclose their network management practices, network performance, characteristics, and the commercial terms of their broadband services.
Large ISPs like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon have said such rules are unnecessary, but agree they are better than stricter rules and approaches the commission floated in 2009 and 2010. Consumer groups, meanwhile, don't think the FCC went far enough. Read More
