As expected, yesterday new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has unveiled his plans to roll back the net neutrality regime put in place during the Obama administration by his predecessor, Tom Wheeler. Under the proposed rulemaking, not only will Title II be withdrawn from the internet but the FCC will cede oversight of such things to the FTC. What do you think? Have your say in the poll below:
With the big wireless carriers preparing for 5G infrastructure spending, I expect their motivation to do so to be a big talking point over the summer. And with many of the same carriers buying into the content business and considering further consolidation, I expect the other side will be quite vocal about the potential for abuse. Whatever side you might be on, I don’t think this is going to be a particularly civil discussion.
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Categories: Government Regulations · Polls
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Laws/Regulations are the result when people or businesses behave badly and complaints roll in to the govt to “do something about it”. In commerce, the principle of “fair” is usually a matter of perspective ( and also how big one’s advantage or disadvantage) is to a given matter.
So, a modern society of good moral principles must collectively decide how to set up rules that foster competition, reward investment & hard work, prevents price gauging & unfair business practices. These are things that are not always easy to agree upon.
Telecom is an industry with a long history of large, global, incumbents that have certainly encouraged govt regulation as a result of market behaviors that were viewed as unfair practices by those in govt.
If I recall, the FCC tried to avoid the T-II classification, but could not come to an amicable agreement with some of the providers.
Rob, would be interested in some of your unbiased perspective of the pro’s/con’s to having these internet disagreements decided by FTC instead of FCC.