'Network Neutrality'? Never Mind.

[Commentary] We just had a never-mind moment on the most controversial public-policy issue relating to the Web: network neutrality. It's not so funny that it has taken so long to reach this logical conclusion. Regulators treat the Web as if it were a common carrier like a railroad, discouraging efficient network management and pricing. The issue of network neutrality had been so politicized in Washington that it's driven underinvestment. President-elect Obama has said he supports "network neutrality," whatever the phrase now means. Networks such as those provided by telecom and cable companies should be able to deliver Web content as quickly and reliably as competitive markets will bear. When the Web was text-based, these issues were straightforward. Now, bandwidth usage is growing by an estimated 50% a year, especially due to online video and real-time applications, such as games and telephone calls, which require no-jitter connections. These services are great for consumers and the companies that offer them, but regulators have not let network management evolve to serve these new needs. It's time to let the big boys among the content providers and network providers fight it out to see who pays how much for what level of service. Until they work out a new approach, consumers in the U.S., who once had the best Web experience, will fall further down the Internet ranks.