Wireless Bypass

Though the topic of net neutrality has been hot in the past few weeks, no one seems to be getting anywhere on the topic. The big question—Who, if anyone, will regulate broadband internet service providers, has yet to be answered.

Most recently, Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski defended his plan to impose regulations on broadband ISPs in front of the financial services subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He backs his plans despite the recent court ruling stating the commission lacked the authority to regulate.

Genachowski is trying to get around this court ruling by classifying broadband internet as a common carrier service (putting it in the same category as phone service, which can be regulated by the FCC). Was Genachowski going too far by trying to outsmart authority? The answer to this is unclear, but we do know that it caused a fair upset among many members of the board.

On the other hand, a new group called the “Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group” (BITAG) has raked in high profile members such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Google, Intel, and Microsoft.

So, which way is the right way? Clearly unregulated broadband internet will not continue forever, but how will we decide who will regulate it…and how will these regulations be played out? It is a question that needs answering before things get out of hand. It is an unfortunate necessity that as technology continues to improve the rules regulating it has to get tougher.  While it may seem the argument goes in circles, eventually a decision will have to be made.

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