"The purpose of these rules is to preserve the open Internet": FCC-Entwurf zur Netzneutralität

Nächster Schritt der FCC zum Thema Netzneutralität: gestern wurde die "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" veröffentlicht. Zu Diskussion gestellt werden vor allem folgende Regeln (Hervorhebung hinzugefügt):

§ 8.5 Content.
Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not prevent any of its users from sending or receiving the lawful content of the user’s choice over the Internet.

§ 8.7 Applications and Services.
Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not prevent any of its users from running the lawful applications or using the lawful services of the user’s choice.

§ 8.9 Devices.
Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not prevent any of its users from connecting to and using on its network the user’s choice of lawful devices that do not harm the network.

§ 8.11 Competitive Options.
Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service may not deprive any of its users of the user’s entitlement to competition among network providers, application providers, service providers, and content providers.

§ 8.13 Nondiscrimination.
Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service must treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner.

§ 8.15 Transparency.
Subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service must disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application, and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in this part.

Was unter "reasonable network management" zu verstehen sein soll, steht in den Definitionen:

Reasonable network management consists of:
(a) reasonable practices employed by a provider of broadband Internet access service to:
(i) reduce or mitigate the effects of congestion on its network or to address quality-of-service concerns;
(ii) address traffic that is unwanted by users or harmful;
(iii) prevent the transfer of unlawful content; or
(iv) prevent the unlawful transfer of content; and
(b) other reasonable network management practices.

Vor allem aus dem letzten Punkt wird man freilich nicht besonders schlau: "Reasonable network management consists of ... other reasonable management practices" ?! Siehe weitere Berichte zB bei Law.com oder Bloomberg (update 24.10.2009: bei TeleFrieden) und auch die Statements der FCC-Mitglieder Genachowski, Copps, McDowell, Clyburn und Baker. Die Angelegenheit war in der FCC erwartungsgemäß nicht einstimmig, McDowell und Baker stimmten teilweise dagegen, sind aber mit dem prozeduralen Weg (insbesondere auch mit der langen Stellungnahmefrist bis zum 14.1.2010) einverstanden; tatsächlich dürfte sich auch bei den kritischen FCC-Mitgliedern etwas Bewegung zeigen - so sagt Meredith Baker in ihrem Statement: "when we began this process three weeks ago, I was prepared to dissent with respect to this entire initiative. But I am not there today."