Telecom and Broadcast Policy Under the Obama Administration

NETWORK NEUTRALITY

Network neutrality (or open Internet) has been subject to fierce debate in the United States. While there may be as many different definitions of net neutrality as there are proponents, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") has stated as a matter of policy that consumers be entitled to: (1) access the lawful Internet content of their choice; (2) run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement; (3) connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network; and (4) have the benefit of competition between and among network providers, application/service providers and content providers. President Barack Obama's policy on the Internet is to "support the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet." His office published a detailed technology and innovation plan supporting network neutrality protections.