ISPs Challenge FCC's Internet Authority

Verizon's top lobbyist, Tom Tauke, is encouraging Congress to strip the U.S. Federal Communications Commission of its role in regulating the Internet. Speaking at a tech. policy forum on Wednesday, Tauke contended that the FCC had too many broadband oversight powers (see "Telecom giant challenges FCC role in broadband" in the Washington Post). His comments were seconded by a statement from AT&T's senior vice president and echoed the sentiments behind the lawsuit Comcast has filed against the FCC. The FCC could reclassify broadband as a common carrier service, which would mean that broadband providers would be regulated like telephone companies.

So what role does the FCC currently have in regulating the Internet? Here are a few interesting links:

• FCC Major Initiatives Here you can find information about FCC industry regulation.
• The National Broadband Plan Created by the FCC.
• Wireless Broadband Access Task Force Links to reports, news releases, and public notices.
• "Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission: The National Broadband Plan" This hearing, by the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, was held today and features testimony by the chairman and all commissioners on the FCC.
• The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (PL 104-104) Describes the jurisdiction of the FCC. Try searching in the PDF for the term "internet".

For further resources, take a look at our guide to telecommunications.