Genachowski Extending Net Neutrality to Cell Networks

The Wall Street Journal is reporting the FCC Chairman Genachowski is going to establish Net Neutrality rules for cellular networks.? The rules which he plans to produce on Monday will outline how cellular companies should manage their networks.? Similar to the recent Net Neutrality bill introduced to Congress, the FCC guidelines would allow for “reasonable” network management of Internet networks for cellular carriers.

This will be sure to rub carriers the wrong way, as many companies exclude certain applications on cell phones existing on their networks that would compete with those carriers ability to offer their own services.? For example, you have the recent Google Voice application being denied by AT&T/Apple from the iPhone because it bypasses AT&T’s ability to provide cell phone service.

There will also exist a concern by network managers on what exactly “reasonable network management” is.? As this implies that the government will be able to step in and examine and then determine whether a company is managing their own network up to government standards.? Whatever those standards may be.

We will be eagerly anticipating Genachowski’s comments on Monday.

-nick