FTC Urges 'Caution' on Net Neutrality

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8Q1BTT80.html

Agency Urges Caution on Net Neutrality

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June 27,2007 | WASHINGTON -- The Federal Trade Commission on  
Wednesday urged policymakers to proceed cautiously on any regulation  
of high-speed Internet traffic.



The agency issued a report addressing the controversial subject of  
network neutrality, which is the notion that all online traffic  
should be treated equally by Internet service providers.

The issue pits consumer groups and content providers such as Google  
Inc. against large telecommunications companies, such as AT&T Inc.  
and Comcast Corp. The latter group wants the option of charging  
customers more for transmitting certain content, including live  
video, faster or more reliably than other data.

FTC Chairwoman Deborah Platt Majoras said that without evidence of  
"market failure or demonstrated consumer harm, policy makers should  
be particularly hesitant to enact new regulation in this area." The  
Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice have  
jurisdiction over high-speed Internet access, while Congress has  
considered legislation that would mandate network neutrality.

The agency also said that certain practices that would discriminate  
among Internet traffic, such as prioritizing some data or providing  
exclusive deals to content providers, "can benefit consumers."

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