The Internet's New Enforcer The FCC chairman appoints himself top cop on the World Wide Web.

09-23-2009 • Reason

In other words, Genachowski's starting point is that it is the job of the FCC job to provide access, not the market. But that idea hasn't produced results to be proud of so far. Government's chief contributions to broadband access have been a slew of wasteful city-run wifi networks and acriss-cross of local regulations that inhibit competition between providers. Meanwhile, the market has been successful at providing access: The FCC's own data shows that 98 percent of zip codes have at least two broadband providers and 88 percent of zip codes have four or more broadband providers. That's not to say that competition has produced a broadband utopia. I'm second to none in my annoyance with the poor customer service offered by Comcast, my ISP. But a National Broadband Plan is hardly likely to solve anyone's customer-service related gripes.

Genachowski talks a good game on Internet freedom and innovation, but then positions the FCC as a sort of Internet enforcer.