Who Really Won on Net Neutrality (But Won't Admit It)

[Commentary] Republicans and supposedly pro-business groups have been on the attack ever since the Federal Communications Commission decided that it would reinstate the principle of an Internet open to everyone. The rhetoric will ratchet up again in a few weeks when the Commission gets around to releasing the text of the ruling. There is a sad lesson here, boys and girls: This is what happens when ideology trumps reality and when people locked into a set point of view choose not to see the larger picture.

Business won the network neutrality fight -- only it wasn't the right businesses. The FCC's decision is one of the most pro-business policies ever enacted by an agency under the Obama Administration. Yet the so-called defenders of business refuse to see it because of (choose one or more) blind hatred of President Obama, control of their agendas by big telecommunications and cable companies who supply the money for campaigns and/or organizations or the limited world view that any government intervention is bad, even if the result is to protect and grow businesses. I get that the US Chamber of Commerce and the big media defenders on the Hill have their issues. But the idea that you let lots of businesses suffer while defending only the privileged few is just nonsense. If you are pro-business, you should be pro-business. Occupy The Chamber, at least until they realize they really did win on net neutrality.

[Art Brodsky is the former vice president of communications for Public Knowledge and is a veteran of telecommunications and Internet journalism and public relations]