Rep. Waxman backs FCC reclassification of broadband as legislative effort breaks down

[t0dd]

Source: The Hill

In a dramatic move, Rep. Henry Waxman on Wednesday said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should use its power to regulate Internet service providers.

Waxman’s (D-Calif.) decision, which came after Republicans said they could not support legislation he was drafting, could change the debate over a cornerstone of President Obama’s policies on technology and the Internet.

The move by the powerful chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee gives political cover to the FCC to move forward with “reclassification” of Internet services, which could place cable- and telephone-company broadband businesses under certain telephone strictures.

Waxman has not previously endorsed action by the FCC, but on Wednesday said the agency should move forward absent bipartisan agreement on legislation.

“If our efforts to find bipartisan consensus fail, the FCC should move forward,” he said. “The bottom line is that we must protect the open Internet. If Congress can’t act, the FCC must.”

FCC action would be a huge blow to cable and telephone companies, which call reclassification the “nuclear option.” They had seen action by Congress as preferable, believing they’d have a greater chance to influence a final product.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/121745-waxman-backs-fcc-reclassification-as-legislative-effort-breaks-down

[deminks]

1. K & R

:kick:

[AmyDeLune]

2. K&R!!!

Woot!!!

[defendandprotect]

3. LOVE Waxman -- !!!

[supernova]

4. KnR!

:dem:

[boppers]

5. The FCC would never censor the internet, right?

Television and radio isn't censored by the FCC "for the children", right?

edit:

Oh, and it's NOT BROADBAND, which is the whole problem in a nutshell. The Cable and Phone companies are selling links as if they were multi-thousand-dollar broadband links, but charging less than 100 bucks a month for them.

So, people who thought they were buying broadband are pissed off when they realize that they made a deal not to use the internet too much, in order to not have to pay too much.