Republican Election Wins Could Hinder Net Neutrality

The national election results likely spell the demise of net neutrality, because the Republican Congressmen slated to gain control of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are dead set against approving the consumer-friendly policy promoted by the Democratic-led FCC.

Net neutrality, which generally calls for unregulated Internet speeds, had been bogged down for months anyway, because several conservative Democrats also opposed net neutrality, dooming the concept to gridlock status. In addition, the Washington Circuit Court of Appeals, which already delivered a blow against net neutrality, would likely strike down any attempt to revive the concept.

At Interop NYC 2010, InformationWeek's Fritz Nelson finds an attendee roaming the floor with a bag so full of schwag that would make most professioanl trick-or-treaters jealous. From the show floor at Interop 2010 in NYC, InformationWeek TV gets a demonstration of Quest Softwares vWorkspace virtual desktop and application management solution. Interviews with the winner and a runner up of the first annual MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Innovation awards
From the show floor at Interop 2010 in NYC, InformationWeek TV gets a demonstration of Quest Software s vWorkspace virtual desktop and application management solution.

Another blow to net neutrality and indeed to much of the telecommunications legislation proposed by an FCC led by Democratic chairman Julius Genachowski was the election loss of Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA.), a 25-year veteran of Congress, who has led the cause for Democrats in the House as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

All three Republican Congressmen said to be leading candidates for the chairman's post are outspoken opponents of the net neutrality concept and much of the FCC's proposed legislation including its National Broadband Plan. They are Joe Barton (R-Tex.), Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.)

No one denies that there are some pressing issues that need action, but somehow regulators and Congress have been fumbling over key telecom issues for years. Ever since the terrorist attack of 9/11 occurred when public safety workers couldn't communicate with each other, there has been near universal agreement that the US desperately needs an effective and robust nationwide public safety network.

Republican and Democrat congressman are in agreement over the need for an effective public safety network, but they have been unable to develop a plan to make it happen. A big chunk of the 700 MHz spectrum that was auctioned two years ago, was supposed to be set aside for a public safety network, but the plan for it was too complicated and no serious bids were submitted.

"We believe Republican mid-term election gains would generally strengthen the hand of the Bells, cable and broadcasters over their telecom media and tech rivals," according to Rebecca Arbogast, an analyst at investment firm Stifel Nicolaus. Roughly translated that means telecoms like AT&T and Verizon Communications are likely to see their positions gain while positions of Internet technology firms like Google and Skype could lose traction.

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