Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Julius Genachowski announced Wednesday that he has circulated draft rules that will "preserve the freedom and openness of the Internet" - but they ironically couldn't be disclosed to the public ahead of the December 21st vote.
Yes, rules on openness no one in the public will get to see. Welcome to government oversight of Internet freedom.
The Internet has been one of the most successful free-market enterprises in history so it was only a question of time before governments sought to protect society from cheaper prices, equal chances for small companies, and no taxes.
It isn't the first time the FCC has tried this, though a hands off mentality toward the Internet is one of few ideas that has had bipartisan support. Unlike radio and television, which granted parts of the limited spectrum to companies and therefore had government oversight, the Internet has grown using plain old capitalism, so FCC jurisdiction is suspect.
Before the FCC can expand into regulating deregulation (think of other disasters in over-regulating deregulation like energy and cable television) it needs approval from Congress. Let's hope Republicans and Democrats don't look at a shaky economy and detonate the only part that still works.
