Protecting the Internet

[Commentary] The intensely competitive nature of the Internet is vital to the American economy and democracy. So we worry that rules proposed this month by Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, to guarantee the Internet’s openness may not be able to guarantee the survival of that competition.

Any new rules must prevent broadband service providers from foreclosing on competition. As proposed, the rules appear to come up short. Fortunately, there is time to improve the proposal by Dec 21. It is virtually assured that the two Republican commissioners will vote against the rule. But the three Democratic commissioners should be able to close the gaps and protect open, competitive broadband. Understanding that they can't foresee every eventuality, we suggest that they keep open a Plan B in case their new guidelines don't do the job: the FCC should keep open its proceedings to redefine broadband as a telecom service. That’s what it is.