FCC's 'General Conduct' Standard Draws Concern

There was some concern in cable and Internet circles this week that the Federal Communications Commission's seven-factor test for deciding if an Internet service provider practice hurts consumers or edge providers could put the agency in the business of making content calls on free expression on the Internet.

That test, among the new proposed network-neutrality rules under a Title II order scheduled to be voted by the FCC Feb. 26, has raised concerns about an online indecency regime or even political litmus tests.

A vague general conduct standard could give the FCC too much leeway to regulate outside of "bright-line" regs—no blocking, no throttling, no paid prioritization—that give the industry some certainty, even if they don't like those constraints.

For the full story go to Multichannel.com.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.