FCC Chair Makes Net Neutrality Push

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski urged his Commission Wednesday to adopt inter-agency guidelines that would ensure net neutrality on wired networks.

“This framework, if adopted later this month, would advance a set of core goals: It would ensure that the Internet remains a powerful platform for innovation and job creation; it would empower consumers and entrepreneurs; it would protect free expression; it would increase certainty in the marketplace, and spur investment both at the edge and in the core of our broadband networks,” Genachowski said during a morning press conference.

Genachowski cast the push in economic terms, arguing that an open internet will help small businesses that rely on the net to remain competitive and encourage the industry privately invest in new, faster broadband networks.

The framework includes measures aimed at blocking ” unreasonable discrimination in transmitting lawful network traffic” as well as increasing transparency among broadband providers while also granting them the ability to manage congestion issues.

Genachowski hopes to have a vote within the agency on the new rules prior to the end of the year.