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Debating New Policy Designed To Preserve 'Net Neutrality'
ResumeThe government — specifically, the Federal Communications Commission — is poised to issue some big, new rules regulating the Internet.
The new policy is designed to preserve so-called called "net neutrality": the idea that all traffic — from Google searches to Netflix — should be treated equally.
It's a new rule that's designed to keep things the way they are. Internet service providers, like Comcast and Verizon, would be prevented from creating "fast lanes" for certain Internet traffic.
That hasn't really been a problem yet, but the FCC is stepping in to make sure it doesn't happen in the future. So, the FCC wants to regulate broadband providers like other utilities. It's a decision that's making lots of waves.
Guests
Berin Szoka, president of the libertarian think tank, TechFreedom. He is opposed to the new FCC policy and he tweets @BerinSzoka.
Jonathan Zittrain, co-founder and director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. He's in favor of the new FCC policy and he tweets @zittrain.
More
The Washington Post: Settle The Net-Neutrality Debate With Legislation
- "In the war over net neutrality, it’s clear where the country should end up. Americans should pay for the bandwidth they consume, and they should consume any legal content they want, without interference from the network operators that transport the packets of information into their homes. That’s not just the way to maintain the free flow of information and services on which the Internet thrives; it’s also the way to encourage service providers to improve their networks rather than just manage traffic on their existing wires."
POLITICO: The GOP Game Plan On Net Neutrality
- "Republicans are pursuing a strategy of investigation, legislation and complaining about the FCC making policy behind closed doors."
This segment aired on February 12, 2015.