The Federal Communications Commission moved the ball forward Thursday on its “Third Way” effort to reclassify Internet service to achieve universal access and “protect and empower consumers.” The reclassification would provide clearer authority to the agency, but the teams on both sides are rapidly taking shape.
Inside the FCC itself, the vote was three to two to release this plan and obtain public comments, with the two Republican appointees voting nay. Some companies, such as Google, eBay and Amazon, and various consumer groups are backing the FCC, while phone and cable companies are largely opposed.
‘Reclaim Our Authority’
The approved Notice of Inquiry asks specifically for comment about the reclassification of wired broadband Internet service as a telecommunications service. The reclassification would apply to data transmission, leaving Internet content and apps largely unregulated. Following several months of comments and responses, the FCC will issue its ruling.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said the FCC needs “to reclaim our authority.” He added that he’s “worried about relying only on the goodwill of a few powerful companies to achieve this country’s broadband hopes and dreams.”
In opposition, Republican FCC Commissioner Meredith Baker said that “industry alone will not solve every challenge and no commercial market is perfect, but I fear a more proactive broadband regulatory approach would adversely affect consumers, competition and investment.”
In early May, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that his agency intended to reclassify broadband service as a “telecommunications service,” but only apply some of the regulations that apply to telecommunications.
The move came following an April judgment by a federal court concerning the FCC’s authority over Comcast as an Internet provider. The ruling found that the agency had more limited authority under the current classification of Internet providers as “information services” than had been widely assumed.
‘A Third Way’
Following the court decision, Genachowski said he rejected…