Network Neutrality Debate Goes Online (of course)

On July 8, Comcast's Joe Waz wrote that Free Press wants to "punish Comcast for engaging in network management that Free Press believes violates the Federal Communications Commission’s Internet Policy Statement." But, he argued, FCC Commissioners have said the Internet Policy Statement is not enforceable, and the law is very clear on that basic point. The Policy Statement is not a set of rules. It doesn't have any binding effect. And the FCC has never adopted rules in this area. On July 9, Free Press' Marvin Ammori responded saying, "We want to ensure that all Americans, not just big corporations and their lobbying gangs, have a seat at the table in policy debates. We also want to protect the free and open Internet that we have always enjoyed. And finally, we want to make sure that lawmakers punish any company that tries to illegally insert itself as gatekeeper between consumers and online content. Unfortunately for the cable giant, what Free Press and the public want is the exact opposite of what Comcast wants. Comcast wants to monopolize your Internet connection, block online competitors, and control what consumers do online. Comcast wants to turn the Internet into cable TV, where every Web site has to cut a special deal with them to get carried or else get blocked. And Comcast wants to be above the law while doing this." Ammori identifies what he calls Comcast's "two main lies": 1) Congress never gave the FCC authority to enforce Net Neutrality. Free Press argues Congress gave the FCC more than enough authority to enforce Net Neutrality and to punish Comcast for its violation. 2) The FCC can't punish Comcast because the agency didn't issue a “rule” about Net Neutrality -- only a “policy statement.” Free Press says the Supreme Court and Congress have made it clear that a federal agency like the FCC can act either through rules or a complaint processes. Nate Anderson asks "Who knew that arcane telecom policy battles at the FCC could 1) be this important and 2) simultaneously be this entertaining?"
(Sources linked below)