The paragraph below is excerpted from the just-released OECD document concerning principles for Internet policy-making.
It’s short and worth reading in its entirety. Note the OECD says the development of a formal regulatory regime “could risk undermining growth.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if the FCC regulators were as knowledgeable about the working of this “decentralised network of networks” – and as sensitive to the regulatory risks of straight-jacking this “continuously evolving interaction and independence among the Internet’s various technical components” – as are their European counterparts.
Time was when we were.
“Promote the open, distributed and interconnected nature of the Internet:
As a decentralised network of networks, the Internet has achieved global interconnection without the development of any international regulatory regime. The development of such a formal regulatory regime could risk undermining its growth. The Internet’s openness to new devices, applications and services has played an important role in its success in fostering innovation, creativity and economic growth. This openness stems from the continuously evolving interaction and independence among the Internet’s various technical components, enabling collaboration and innovation while continuing to operate independently from one another. This independence permits policy and regulatory changes in some components without requiring changes in others or impacting on innovation and collaboration. The Internet’s openness also stems from globally accepted, consensus driven technical standards that support global product markets and communications. The roles, openness, and competencies of the global multi-stakeholder institutions that govern standards for different layers of Internet components should be recognised and their contribution should be sought on the different technical elements of public policy objectives. Maintaining technology neutrality and appropriate quality for all Internet services is also important to ensure an open and dynamic Internet environment. Provision of open Internet access services is critical for the Internet economy.”
Posts
