The Internet in action. (AP Photo/Alic Keplicz)
On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission passed a set of regulations that would prevent Internet service providers such as AT&T and Cox Cable from intentionally blocking Internet traffic. Coined “Net neutrality,” supporters are encouraged that the new set of rules will ensure service companies will not be able to manipulate the choice of the common Internet surfer, also known as “traffic discrimination.” Also included is increased transparency on how carriers manage their networks and technologies.
Critics, however, believe that Net neutrality is another government power grab and that the new regulations will be an intrusion upon Internet customers since people can already surf the web to their heart’s content. Government interference is also a concern.
Said Tom Tauke, senior vice president for Public Policy at Verizon Communications, “When you're trying to make the network flow, you can't have lawyers looking over engineers' shoulders telling them what they can and can't do.”
This comes in addition to the proposed Cybersecurity Act which would give the government their own set of standards forprivate sector security and would license “cybersecurity professionals” who would oversee the new measures. Under this Act the president would also be given the power to declare “a cybersecurity emergency” and utilize “amorphous powers” to do as he wished, such as turn it off.
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