The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday proposed a set of open Internet protections, in a proposal it says was impacted by around 4 million Americans it says who "spoke up in favor of preserving a free and open Internet". What the FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said: - Broadband must be open, fast and fair: Something we're not familiar with in India, where broadband can be as low as 512kbps and works at less than 100 kbps. Wheeler said that "Broadband networks are the most powerful and pervasive connectivity in history. Broadband is reshaping our economy and recasting the patterns of our lives. Every day, we rely on high-speed connectivity to do our jobs, access entertainment, keep up with the news, express our views, and stay in touch with friends and family.There are three simple keys to our broadband future. Broadband networks must be fast. Broadband networks must be fair. Broadband networks must be open." - Network owners tend to abuse gatekeeper position, prioritize their interests over users: Something that we can say about Indian telecom operators - especially Airtel and Vodafone and the COAI - who have been repeatedly trying for a regulation of Internet services, will know quite well. The FCC said that "We know from the history of previous networks that both human nature and economic opportunism act to encourage network owners to become gatekeepers that prioritize their interests above the interests of their users. As the D.C. Circuit observed in the Verizon decision and as the public record affirms, broadband…
