| It's encouraging that this forum didn't devolve into an argument about whether to regulate or not. Regulations have been an integral part of our communications environment -- from broadcast to broadband -- since the 1920s. The challenge is to instill regulations that work for us all and not those that simply line the pockets of the handful of incumbents that control access to the airwaves and the Internet.
Public officials do have a role to play in preserving Internet freedom and ensuring that America's communications infrastructure benefits the common good. Sen. Durbin deserves praise for taking this forward in such an innovative and transparent way.
Taking last night's discussion into account, here are some guiding principles -- or rules for the road -- that may help guide this conversation in the coming days. (These principles are also very much in line with the work of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition, the Open Internet Coalition and the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition -- of which my organization, Free Press, is a member).
What we are fighting for.
1. Universal Affordable Access: High-speed Internet access should be universally available and affordable. No matter where one is geographically or by income, every American must be able to connect to the information superhighway at fair prices and speeds. Like the public highways, the information superhighway must be considered a key piece of public infrastructure -- an indispensable part of our society that provides economic and social opportunities to all.
2. An Open Network: Access to broadband networks should be open to all producers and consumers of Internet content on fair and equal terms without discrimination. The Internet should offer a free market to all competitors and maximum choice to all consumers. All Web sites, devices, applications and services should have unfettered access to open Internet networks. These principles, known as Network Neutrality and Open Access, ensure that no self-interested gatekeepers can hold captive the online economic marketplace or marketplace of ideas.
3. Top-Notch Services and the Lowest Prices through Fair Competition: A competitive marketplace fosters innovation, benefits consumers, creates jobs, and grows the economy. America has seen nearly a decade of decline in its world standing in broadband services largely because of an uncompetitive marketplace -- with monopolies and barriers to entry written into the law. America must build the world's most advanced communications networks and maximize competition and innovation on those networks. In the end American Internet users will benefit from maximum choice at minimum cost.
If people agree that these are worthwhile goals, the challenge is not just to craft legislation but to build political consensus to make them a reality. |
