FCC REGULATION OF THE INTERNET -- PART I

"Communication" with respect to the FCC was initially limited to "broadcast transmissions" (radio and TV). It was expanded to include satellite transmission. It was further expanded to include "broadband" and, in March of 2010, "The National Broadband Plan" was unveiled "as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" for "IMPROVING broadband Internet ACCESS throughout the United States." The FCC considered broadband to be an "information service" and, therefore, "lightly regulated". From what I've read so far there was nothing specific about FCC "regulation" only the stated improvement of "access."


However, something non-communications related that has been shoehorned in is "energy demand management goals" with "smart grid" features for providing information to consumers that will allow them to reduce their energy consumption, ostensibly to lower their costs. Goal 6 of the US National Broadband Plan states that "Americans would or SHOULD or WILL have the right to redirect live usage data securely to any third party energy demand management service provider they chose, for ASSISTANCE in managing demand of ALL KINDS (including potentially fossil fuel use, water and other utilities)." Again, there is no mention of any FCC regulatory actions here. So what will they regulate?



One stated reason for the plan is that "among developed nations, the US has fallen behind Japan, the EU and South Korea in power grid technology, and has made it a national priority to improve its energy demand and supply management. Reliance on dirty oil and other DIPLOMATICALLY DANGEROUS sources that cause the US to be targetted as the cause of climate change was noted by the Pentagon in several reports as a growing US national security concern. Consuming more energy per unit productivity than any other developed nation IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR THE U.S. ACCORDING TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION" Did anyone discuss this with US before making that determination? Obama "has made it a high priority to implement 'smart grid' technologies."


The FCC quoted projected costs of just implementing the Plan to be in the "range of $20 billion to $350 billion." Now THAT'S a range! If the costs are on the high side it is most probable (actually CERTAIN) that "this will leave the rest of the cost burden on the government, who MAY in turn place it on the citizens as a tax."


The cost/tax issue is one thing. More frightening is what the "plan" is with respect to regulation of the internet AND who will ultimately have the "control" of energy consumption of the individual. I'm betting it will be the government turning usage down instead of the consumer. That's the only way the Feds can ensure that conservation is being administered. 


More in Part II.