Net neutrality bill failings

The Federal Communications Commission’s decision to let big internet service providers treat the internet as if they own it created a responsibility for Congress to intervene in the interest of consumers.

Unfortunately, the first effort to do so falls well short.

Recently, the FCC repealed regulations that had established “net neutrality,” which holds that the internet should be easily and equally accessible to all consumers and anyone who wants to post content. Under the FCC’s abandonment of responsibility, access to the internet by creators and access to web content by consumers could be manipulated many ways by the big ISPs to increase their own profit — especially because most of those companies also own or have close relationships with content production companies.

Dec. 19, Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced the Open Internet Preservation Act, which would not achieve the title’s goal even though the bill includes some sound provisions.

The bill would bar ISPs from blocking or slowing internet traffic, which is a needed provision. But other parts of the bill would bar the FCC and state governments from acting to prevent ISPs from manipulating traffic in other ways. And, it would preclude the FCC from treating the ISPs as utilities, which permanently would spare them from most public regulation. And it provides a giant loophole, allowing the ISPs to do what they deem necessary for “reasonable network management,” without defining it.

Congress’ objective should be true net neutrality. It should keep the best provisions of Blackburn’s bill in that regard, but close its loopholes and mandate FCC regulation.