The problem with free market solution to net neutrality is that in most places in US you do not have a free market. For instance, in my house I have an option of COX or AT&T. By in-laws house ONLY has cox. My parents live in the area where ONLY Verizon DSL is available. And they do not live in the middle of nowhere. San Diego and LA, respectively. In fact most people I personally know only have one Internet option.
And NO, wireless is NOT and option, right now at least. I am moving right now to an area of Palm Springs where there is no Internet service, at all. So I was looking at wireless and satellite options. Best I found was about 70$ / month for 12 gigs per month! Nowadays I burn through 12gigs in a couple of days. So now I am building a long range wifi link to my neighbors house 3 miles away, so I can share his Internet.
I do agree that free market solution is usually best, but free market only works if there is competition. In the ISP sector there is no competition. And why shouldn't we regulate ISPs like common carriers. In many cases the Internet service is delivered through the same cables as our telephone service. Telephone providers are regulated as common carriers. In many cases these are the same companies that are also providing Internet service. Why shouldn't they be regulated as common carriers.
Just because we don't trust ISPs it doesn't follow that we can trust the FCC. ISPs still have to make a profit so they have to have some sort of accountability to their customers, but what accountability will the FCC have to the people once we establish the precedent that they can regulate the Internet? Giving control of the Internet to the people who routinely censor TV and radio would be the beginning of the end of a free and neutral Internet.
And NO, wireless is NOT and option, right now at least. I am moving right now to an area of Palm Springs where there is no Internet service, at all. So I was looking at wireless and satellite options. Best I found was about 70$ / month for 12 gigs per month! Nowadays I burn through 12gigs in a couple of days. So now I am building a long range wifi link to my neighbors house 3 miles away, so I can share his Internet.
I do agree that free market solution is usually best, but free market only works if there is competition. In the ISP sector there is no competition. And why shouldn't we regulate ISPs like common carriers. In many cases the Internet service is delivered through the same cables as our telephone service. Telephone providers are regulated as common carriers. In many cases these are the same companies that are also providing Internet service. Why shouldn't they be regulated as common carriers.