Copps: FCC can impose Net Neutrality

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
Date: May 24, 2006 10:52:42 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net () warpspeed com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Copps: FCC can impose Net Neutrality
Reply-To: dewayne () warpspeed com

COPPS: FCC CAN IMPOSE NET NEUTRALITY

[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The Federal Communications Commission has authority under current law  
to ensure that broadband-access providers -- currently mainly cable  
and phone companies -- do not discriminate against Web-based  
providers of content, search services and applications, FCC  
commissioner Michael Copps said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Copps  
stressed that it was essential for the agency to go beyond hortatory  
policy principles and adopt enforceable rules that guarantee network  
neutrality and shield Internet companies without wires into millions  
of homes from potential misconduct by companies that control those  
wires. "I think we have authority to go now to the second phase of  
network neutrality, to make sure that there's not discrimination  
against those that are not affiliated with the network owners," Copps  
said in a press briefing held in his office . Although some have  
questioned the FCC authority's to impose network neutrality on  
information-service providers under Title I of the Communications  
Act, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a majority opinion last June  
indicating otherwise. "The [FCC] remains free to impose special  
regulatory duties on facilities-based [Internet-service providers]  
under its Title I ancillary jurisdiction," Justice Clarence Thomas  
wrote in National Cable & Telecommunications Association vs. Brand X  
Internet Services. Copps indicated that the FCC could rely on Title I  
authority to act. "I think we have a good bit of authority in serving  
the public interest in keeping the networks open to move ahead on  
this," he said.

<http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6337396.html?display=Breaking 
+News>

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