Net neutrality backers launched a campaign last week urging the FCC to make sure any national broadband strategy, which is supposed to be finalized by February 2010, includes open access provisions. Their campaign is called "It's the Internet, Stupid," and argues that if net neutrality rules aren't imposed, broadband connectivity is worthless.
The campaign is backed by some high profile net neutrality advocates including Stanford professor and lawyer Larry Lessig, Public Knowledge's Harold Feld, Harvard University's Scott Bradner, author Jeff Jarvis and Craig's List founder Craig Newmark and aims to urge the FCC to include the "nondiscrimination and network interconnection obligations" the commission initially outlined in 2005 for any broadband plan. These obligations include the idea that network operators should be forced to allows users to access any content or run any Web application on any device that doesn't harm the network.
Broadband providers such as AT&T and Verizon have already addressed the net neutrality issue in their public comments filed with the commission last week. AT&T wants the FCC to continue its current policy of policing discrimination on a case-by-case basis. Verizon called net neutrality a "backward-looking, heavy-handed regulation" that "would undermine consumer choice and inhibit innovation and investment in broadband."
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