On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:10:53 +0000 (UTC), Nate Bargmann
<n0nb.DO.NOT.SPAM@ME.n0nb.us> wrote:

>On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:26:03 -0700, John Navas wrote:
>
>> The US has proposed new rules that would require internet firms to
>> respect the principle of "network neutrality".
>>
>> The head of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) said that
>> "all web traffic should be treated equally".
>>
>> The new rules are intended to prevent firms throttling
>> bandwidth-sapping web traffic such as streaming video.
>>
>> MORE: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8267366.stm>

Perhaps it would be best if one actually read the speech instead of
2nd and 3rd hand opinions?
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-293574A1.pdf>

>I didn't see a link to any NPRM in the article.

Patience. In FCC babble, it's not a Notice of Proposed Rule Making.
It's called a "docket". Go thee unto:
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/>
and inscribe "net neutrality" in the description search box. Only 3
items appear, none of which are really dockets. As you note, the item
is actually a speech or opinion and probably does not represent the
position of the entire commission.

>What the "rules" the BBC
>claims to have been proposed appear to be are merely the chairman's
>personal guiding principles, which I don't disagree with, not any sort of
>formal rule making process.

Exactly.

>Much time will pass and much money will
>change hands and flood into congress before an NPRM is released and then
>even more money will change hands and even more money will flood into
>congress before a final Report and Order is released making these guiding
>principals into formal rules.

Money is the lubricant of politics. Without a proper lube job,
government would grind to a halt and rust in place.

>In short, we are a long way from formal 'Net Neutrality rules, which may
>not even happen before this chairman's term is complete.

Don't be surprised if it does appear fairly soon. Net Neutrality has
the potential of expanding the FCC's power dramatically. I can just
see the commissars lusting after more power to tell all the ISP's and
VoIP how to run their business. It's for the people, so it must be a
good thing.


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