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FCC Member: Leave the Internet Alone

Engineers, not politicians, should solve tech problems

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2008 3:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – The latest crisis for the internet is the gridlock caused by bandwidth-clogging P2P software. But don’t worry, says FCC commissioner Robert McDowell. This has happened before. As far back as 1987, engineers have been solving the net’s bandwidth problems. It’s been a triumph of anti-regulation, and there’s no reason for the government to get involved now, he writes in the Washington Post.

Many are calling for rules to prevent the kind of tampering with P2P transmissions that Comcast recently perpetrated. But Comcast worked out its dispute with BitTorrent, and the companies agreed engineers, not politicians, should solve engineering problems. Nongovernmental groups have likewise done amazing work on the issue. “Let's stick with what works,” McDowell writes, “and encourage collaboration over regulation.”

FCC chairman Kevin Martin, center, and commissioner Michael Copps, left, listen to testimony as commissioner Robert McDowell, right, takes notes during a hearing in this file photo. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Improving "last mile" connections may temporarily solve the P2P problem, but the larger issue of how and whether or not to regulate the internet will remain. (Shutterstock)

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FCC Member: Leave the Internet Alone

Engineers, not politicians, should solve tech problems

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Engineers, not politicians, should solve tech problems

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Internet • FCC • net neutrality • regulation • P2P • bandwidth

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Verizon Challenges New Network Neutrality Rules

Company thinks FCC overstepped its authority

Get Ready for the Two-Speed Internet

Dan Lyons: Thanks to net neutrality, we'll probably have fast and slow lanes

FCC Adopts Net Neutrality Rules for Web Traffic

Issue will be revisited in the courts

FCC Poised to Pass Net Neutrality Rules

'Fake' neutrality plan doesn't go far enough, critics say

Our Most Urgent Free Speech Issue: Net Neutrality

FCC's draft regulations 'worse than nothing'

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Newser By Users

Community

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