Net neutrality still faces political, legal hurdles

[Brian Warkoczeski]

Net neutrality still faces political, legal hurdles

by Marguerite Reardon

www.cnet.com

October 22, 2009

Net neutrality supporters may be celebrating the Federal Communications 
Commission's unanimous vote Thursday to begin developing open Internet 
regulation, but the battle is far from over as the yet-to-be-written 
regulation is already facing Congressional opposition and will also 
likely be challenged in court.

Votes at the FCC for the proposal to get the ball rolling on new rules 
to protect an open Internet hadn't even been cast when Senator John 
McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced legislation on Thursday morning that would 
block the agency from regulating the Internet. McCain said that Net 
neutrality rules would stifle innovation and hurt the job market.

"Today I'm pleased to introduce the Internet Freedom Act of 2009 that 
will keep the Internet free from government control and regulation," 
McCain said in a statement. "It will allow for continued innovation that 
will in turn create more high-paying jobs for the millions of Americans 
who are out of work or seeking new employment. Keeping businesses free 
from oppressive regulations is the best stimulus for the current economy."

The FCC voted unanimously Thursday on a proposal that would start the 
process for creating regulation that will keep the Internet open. The 
proposal itself uses the FCC's open Internet principles as a foundation 
and would forbid network operators from restricting access to lawful 
Internet content, applications, and services. It would also require 
network providers to allow customers to attach nonharmful devices to the 
network.

For rest of the article, see:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10381620-266.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0