Pro and Con: Google Says Net Neutrality Protects Innovation but FTC Says Net Neutrality Regulation is Unnecessary

"Net neutrality" has emerged as new terminology in a growing debate over the future of the Internet. Generally, it describes a philosophy that all web sites should be treated equally so that ISPs cannot restrict users' access to web sites or web-based services. The concept has caused a major rift between big Internet firms such as Google and Yahoo which support it and large telecommunications companies which oppose it. At a recent conference, Google Inc's general counsel, David Drummond, asserted that without new laws to regulate ISPs, Internet innovators will be forced to negotiate with each major ISP before bringing their web sites online, thereby stifling innovation and entrepreneurship. With some success, Google Inc has been actively lobbying politicians in Washington to give the Federal Communications Commission the authority to regulate broadband ISPs and impose a version of net neutrality by active oversight and enforcement. With a diametrically opposed opinion, Deborah Platt Majoras, head of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has offered the view that net neutrality legislation currently before the US Senate is unnecessary because there has not been any demonstrated harm to consumers. From her perspective, market forces would likely solve any problems that might arise, and the legislation would impose too much regulation on the Internet. Ms Majoras asserts that Google Inc and other Internet companies that support net neutrality are not so much interested in protecting unrestricted access to web sites, but rather want to use new regulations to protect their dominant positions in the marketplace. Ms Majoras announced that a new Internet Access Task Force at the FTC will evaluate net neutrality proposals and present a report on its findings. Although it may not wholeheartedly support new net neutrality initiatives, the FTC reminded Congress that the FTC already has the authority to regulate any "anticompetitive, deceptive, or unfair practices," by any kind of broadband provider. Ms. Majoras also stated that the FTC already uses its powers to punish any ISPs that unfairly restrict users' access to web sites or web-based services. For more detail on these two related stories, see: http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6108376.html; and http://makeashorterlink.com/?W2A2628AD Summary by: Andrei Edwards