Re:As Republicans Concede, F.C.C. Is Expected to Enforce Net...
by dragonwriter on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @06:51PM
(#9104371)
> Title II regulation was designed for the plain-old-telephone-system monopolies, where there was even less choice (one provider!) than the very worst of current local broadband markets. The internet, without any FCC rules, thrived and completely eclipsed that slow-moving regulated market.
Various FCC rules applied to the internet during the time it began to thrive as a public service (including much of what passed for "broadband" in the early days being subject to Title II regulations.)
> But after this 'reclassification', new federal rules will limit what ISPs can offer and charge, regardless of what paying customers prefer, under the 1930s telephone/utility model.
Except to the extent that they won't, due to the application of forbearance. From the outlines that have been released, most of the "1930s telephone/utility model" won't apply, but of course the details won't be certain until after an actual order is adopted by the FCC, and the details could change from what was covered b the released outlines.
> ISPs will have to keep a DC commission staffed by loyalists of the two national parties happy, or else discretionary interpretations will go against them.
Insofar as the FCC has legal authority to regulate, that's already true whether or not the FCC adopts the particular regulations under discussion now. And, of course, in the same way, its equally true that ISPs also have to keep the Congress -- likewise made up of loyalists of the two national parties -- happy, or else legislation will go against them. (And, guess what, the courts, too -- after all, its hardly as if federal judges aren't also generally appointed from the pool of party loyalists.) All of this independently of whatever regulations the FCC chooses to adopt this week.
Various FCC rules applied to the internet during the time it began to thrive as a public service (including much of what passed for "broadband" in the early days being subject to Title II regulations.)
> But after this 'reclassification', new federal rules will limit what ISPs can offer and charge, regardless of what paying customers prefer, under the 1930s telephone/utility model.
Except to the extent that they won't, due to the application of forbearance. From the outlines that have been released, most of the "1930s telephone/utility model" won't apply, but of course the details won't be certain until after an actual order is adopted by the FCC, and the details could change from what was covered b the released outlines.
> ISPs will have to keep a DC commission staffed by loyalists of the two national parties happy, or else discretionary interpretations will go against them.
Insofar as the FCC has legal authority to regulate, that's already true whether or not the FCC adopts the particular regulations under discussion now. And, of course, in the same way, its equally true that ISPs also have to keep the Congress -- likewise made up of loyalists of the two national parties -- happy, or else legislation will go against them. (And, guess what, the courts, too -- after all, its hardly as if federal judges aren't also generally appointed from the pool of party loyalists.) All of this independently of whatever regulations the FCC chooses to adopt this week.