Journal 9, October 25th

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10381355-266.html

Last Thursday the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to begin the process to create regulations in order to preserve the internet as an open form of communication. Although in favor of gathering research, Republican Attwell Baker does not see much point in specific rules because she believes there is little threat to internet openness. Leading up to the vote there was much debate on the subject with principle web companies like Google and upstarts agreeing that the internet's openness be preserved with prominent internet service providers were wary of intrusive regulation. Phone companies like AT&T and Verizon are fearful that the new regulation will target mostly network traffic causing higher costs and hassle to the companies responsible for handling that traffic. The new policies would prevent ISPs from viewing data sent on their network for any reason. This includes illegal activities such as pirated software and other unlawful uses of the companies' network. In addition to letting illegal activities go unnoticed the new policies would make it impossible for ISPs to increase efficiency by sorting data by type to allow for faster processing of data. While ISPs announce their disdain of the proposed plan open advocacy groups like the Open Internet Coalition, Public Knowledge, and Free Press are praising the FCC for their decision.

This decision is an important milestone in the history of the internet. Rarely has the United States enacted any policy to regulate or otherwise affect the internet. At least in the United States the internet has acted as a platform where free speech can flourish with minimal meddling by the government or anyone else who might choose to impede that right. Hopefully these new policies from the FCC will continue this tradition so that the internet can remain a safe-haven for free expression and wont be the start of a trend to regulate a once free space.

Reference:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/172371/fccs_net_neutrality_plan_draws_fast_fire.html