Divided FCC approves net neutrality rules

Should phone and cable companies be able to charge different rates depending on what and how much you download? They may very well be able to now. The Federal Communications Commission officially adopted controversial Net neutrality rules today, but the fight is far from over as the FCC's authority to create and enforce these rules may still be questionable. Supporters of strict Net Neutrality, such as Sascha Meinrath, director of New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative, support a full ban on providers charging different rates or squeezing bandwidth for heavy users. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wants to allow providers to manage network congestion and charge according to usage. Is neutrality needed to maintain the Internet’s free-flow of information? Or do the regulations themselves limit the freedoms they’re trying to protect?

Should phone and cable companies be able to charge different rates depending on what and how much you download? They may very well be able to now. The Federal Communications Commission officially adopted controversial Net neutrality rules today, but the fight is far from over as the FCC's authority to create and enforce these rules may still be questionable. Supporters of strict Net Neutrality, such as Sascha Meinrath, director of New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative, support a full ban on providers charging different rates or squeezing bandwidth for heavy users. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wants to allow providers to manage network congestion and charge according to usage. Is neutrality needed to maintain the Internet’s free-flow of information? Or do the regulations themselves limit the freedoms they’re trying to protect?

Guests:

Cecila Kang, technology reporter for the Washington Post

Declan McCullagh, chief political correspondent for CNET