Waxman Net Neutrality Plan: Internet Regulation Lite, Anybody?

James Gattuso / September 29, 2010

Just days before Congress recesses for the upcoming elections, House Commerce Committee chair Henry Waxman stepped into the debate over Internet regulation yesterday, releasing draft legislation to impose certain “neutrality” rules to providers of broadband Internet service. Hammered out in negotiations over the past few weeks with the active participation of Google, Verizon, and other competing broadband industry players, the final product—not surprisingly—looks a lot like the Google–Verizon consensus plan announced last month.

Specifically, the Waxman proposal would ban Internet access providers such as Verizon from blocking content outright but would otherwise allow them to manage the traffic on their networks—and even offer “priority service” for a fee—as long as they do not “unjustly or unreasonably discriminate.” This anti-discrimination requirement would not apply to wireless Internet access, which would be kept mostly free of regulation. (more…)