The issues have become far more complex since the days when the Internet ran on top of a regulated, "common carriage" phone network.
In this series of articles based on the new report by Public Utility Law Project, written by New Networks, Part 1 outlined that Verizon's FiOS cable franchise specifically states that the "FTTP" (Fiber-to-the-Premises) network is classified as a 'Title II', common carriage, telecommunication service, meaning that it should be part of the state utility.
"Imposing a Title II common carriage regime on broadband providers would be a radical change in course that would only chill, not spur innovation.
"I would like a policy of common carriage that is based not on hours but on a full prime-time schedule," said Ms. Mitchell, who will present her proposal to member stations this month.
"Reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a Title II common carriage telecommunications service, as some have suggested, would be a radical departure that would not achieve its proponents' stated goals and would only endanger the entire Internet ecosystem.
We uncovered that Verizon's Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network (which is used by FiOS service) is a Title II, common carriage network, and this was done to get the utility rights of way and charge phone customers.
To understand neutrality, you have to understand an esoteric concept called "common carriage".
With the Internet, the Net Neutrality rules are an attempt to supply common carriage principles to the Internet.
Congress needs to establish basic ground rules for an open Internet, just as common carriage laws did for the phone system.
