Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality has been back in the news over the past few days.  The truth is that not much has changed since we last considered the issue in this space other than a decision from the Federal Communications Commission about whether or not broadband services should be classified as a regulated telecommunications service or a largely unregulated service may happen before year end. Over the summer, the FCC solicited comments from the public on the issue. 

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Municipal Broadband: A Different Perspective

Suppose we’ve been framing the questions associated with municipal--or municipally sponsored--broadband in the wrong way?  Suppose the question isn’t whether or not this is a good idea (and there are volumes that have already been written on this topic), but, in fact, who will serve rural and remote areas when the private firms, for any number of good reasons (and some not-so-good reasons) won’t?

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Net Neutrality: The Next Round

On Monday, September 9th, long-time litigants Verizon (among others) and the Federal Communications Commission met for another round in the dispute over the long running battle known as “Net Neutrality.” The two key questions at the root of the ongoing saga are whether providers of internet services can discriminate between those customers that they serve, and whether the FCC—or any entity for that matter--has the legal authority to regulate the internet.

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Privacy is the New “It” Issue

Much of the intellectual energy in telecom policy circles has floated around the challenges posed by the concept of Net Neutrality as cases and challenges worked their way through academic, policy and judicial systems.  However, this summer, much of the thoughtful discourse has moved on to the very challenging issue of Privacy which affects almost every single American (or connected global resident) in a way that’s potentially more acute and certainly more real than any discussion of Net Neutrality has ever been.

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Net Neutrality and Broadband as a Utility: What's Going On?

Regulatory oversight and enforcement power is essential to ensure that something beyond "market forces" shapes the broadband environment.

Mainstream publications from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal to Fortune have all published thoughtful pieces lately addressing the question of whether or not broadband should be regulated as a utility. There are those who argue that, regardless of whether such treatment is warranted or even desirable, it already exists.

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