Net Neutrality Debate Burns On

Two key stakeholders who have taken opposite stands in the net neutrality debate found some area of agreement Tuesday: Wireless providers should be given more leeway in how they manage their broadband networks given the constraints imposed by their use of spectrum to deliver high-speed Internet services. But when it comes to the overall issue of whether the Federal Communications Commission should impose rules that would ensure that broadband providers cannot prioritize content, Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn and Chris Guttman-McCabe, vice president of the wireless industry group CTIA, parted company. During a debate on the FCC's proposed principles, Sohn argued that the issue "comes down to what kind of Internet do we want? Do we want an Internet where control" is with the users or the network operators. "The large carriers want to prioritize content. They want to pick winners and losers," Sohn said. She argued that the FCC's proposed network neutrality principles are "spare, narrow and straight forward" and will ensure that control stays with users. Sohn added that while operators, particularly wireless carriers, should have some flexibility to manage their networks, she said it should be defined. Sohn said she has concerns that the FCC's proposed language providing for "reasonable" network management is to "loosey goosey." She said she would prefer the agency consider language adopted by Canadian authorities.