Around the Net

Will Net Neutrality Expand?

Much has been made about a lack of federal regulations possibly leading to an ISP-controlled Internet, where tariffs would be imposed on Web companies for greater broadband consumption--especially as increased demand puts a greater strain on their networks.

ISP providers have vehemently lobbied against neutrality regulations, saying that the establishment of rules would only benefit Web giants like Google. They add that tariffs would actually help smaller companies that take up less bandwidth catch up with the Googles of the world.

On March 22, the FCC launched an investigation into whether ISPs are stifling competition, though neither side expects the government agency to uncover much. Meanwhile, the high-speed ISPs have consistently said that they don´t plan to block competing services. As Comcast's vice president of external affairs, Joseph Waz Jr., said, calls for Net neutrality legislation were "a solution in search of a problem." In other words, there is nothing specific to investigate, except a few instances where competing ISPs blocked VoIP providers like Vonage. In most cases, they´ve curbed such behavior.

Read the whole story at Business Week »

Next story loading loading..