Sunday, September 09, 2007

Lame DOJ take on net neutrality

This Concurring Opinions post debunks a public comment from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice on net neutrality.

The government says:

"The Department submits, however, that free market competition, unfettered by unnecessary governmental regulatory restraints, is the best way to foster innovation and development of the Internet. Free market competition drives scarce resources to their fullest and most efficient use, spurring businesses to invest in and sell as efficiently as possible the kinds and quality of goods and services that consumers desire. Past experience has demonstrated that, absent actual market failure, the operation of a free market is a far superior alternative to regulatory restraints."

That's great - if the government would act to force and enforce competition. If there really was competition, net neutrality would not be an issue.

Here's more from Techdirt: "Does the DOJ not realize that the market for broadband is already heavily regulated, which is why most consumers here only have one or two choices -- compared to other countries that have created more open markets on top of the infrastructure, allowing for competition, faster speeds and increased innovation?"

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