U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has opted to try to re-regulate the Internet in an effort to preserve so-called Net neutrality. If successful, it means ISPs would not be able to slow or block online access that consumes large amounts of bandwidth.
“Tomorrow, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will announce a path forward for the Commission to address serious legal issues raised by the Comcast v. FCC case,” says a senior FCC official. “The Chairman will seek to restore the status quo as it existed prior to the court decision in order to fulfill the previously stated agenda of extending broadband to all Americans, protecting consumers, ensuring fair competition, and preserving a free and open Internet.”
The new approach indicates that Genachowski remains committed to “network neutrality,” the idea that broadband providers should treat Web traffic equally; despite the recent court ruling in favor of cable TV and Internet access giant Comcast in its long-fought case against the regulatory agency.
After news of Genachowski’s decision was reported later in the day, the Open Internet Coalition, which has supporters including Google and Facebook said in a statement that it means “the Internet will receive the protections this essential communications infrastructure for the 21st century requires.”
News of the potential change comes the same day that two two key lawmakers urged the FCC to consider reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service.
