Freedom Line Blog

It appears that Obama’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is ready to formally commence its invasion of one of the few frontiers that it has not yet commandeered – the Internet.  After months of concerned anticipation and speculation, the Wall Street Journal reports that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will officially propose codification of “Net Neutrality” rules that have heretofore remained unadopted.  He will rationalize his takeover initiative in a speech this coming Monday, according to the report.

So what is wrong with “Net Neutrality?”  Very simply, it isn’t “neutrality” at all.  Rather, it means that the federal government will impose its corrosive presence into the Internet, which has remained the most vibrant and innovative sphere of contemporary American life precisely because the federal government has kept out.  “Net Neutrality” will reverse that.  In this age, continued Internet innovation demands flexibility and freedom on the part of Internet service providers to experiment with different delivery and pricing models to prevent increasing gridlock and maintain consumer quality.  By imposing a one-size-fits-all business model upon private entities, however, federal bureaucrats will stifle that flexibility and freedom to operate and experiment with different models.  Ultimately, continued Internet innovation and consumer quality will be the casualty.

After all, what sectors has the federal government improved after imposing its heavy hand?

Perhaps the best manner of illustrating “Net Neutrality” is that it is the Fairness Doctrine of the Internet.

We don’t need the federal government controlling our healthcare, we don’t need it controlling our airwaves and we certainly don’t need it controlling the Internet.