Limitless innovation? Only if the FCC gives permission

[Commentary] Apple, Facebook and Google are examples of what appears to be a general trend in tech innovation: namely, that the innovations and investments that are reshaping services and making them broadly available are being made by removing traditional walls between processing, content, two-way networks, one-way networks, and other services. Unfortunately, these new directions will be slowed or maybe even stopped if the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decision to apply Title II to Internet service providers stands.

Under Title II, it could be that the FCC would take a long, hard look at whether Google’s network is too adapted to Google’s needs, whether Google Fiber is just and reasonably priced, whether Creative Accelerator treats all content equally, and other potential concerns. Breaking the rules is hard and costly when every new idea is subject to being scrutinized and stalled before the innovations are made available to customers, if they ever are. Let’s hope Congress, a future FCC, or the courts find a way to break these rules before it comes to that.

[Mark Jamison is the director and Gunter Professor of the Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida]