FCC's McDowell: 'We Are Losing the Fight for Internet Freedom'

Federal Communications Commission member Robert McDowell plans to tell Congress that aggressive action is needed to stem that tide. "We are losing the fight for Internet freedom," Commissioner McDowell plans to tell members of the Senate Commerce Committee on March 12.

"Unless defenders of Internet freedom and prosperity act quickly, boldly and imaginatively, this tragic trajectory will become irreversible," he says, according to his prepared testimony for an FCC oversight hearing in the committee. He also plans to tell the committee he thinks the FCC should: 1) at least test how to apply, or not apply, traditional regulations to an all-IP world (AT&T has asked the FCC for such test beds); 2) do nothing to restrict the pool of wireless bidders for broadcast spectrum -- including via de facto spectrum caps; 3) and modernize media ownership rules, but not start applying local ownership caps to joint sales agreements.