FTC may become the net neutrality enforcer

The Federal Trade Commission may get another new job description--and a hard one, at that. It may start enforcing net-neutrality rules and challenging bad network management practices when broadband providers break their contractual obligations to consumers. FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz said it's up to broadband providers to inform consumers about the download speeds they're delivering and the types of network management practices they're using.

The rules would be tough. If a broadband provider blocks web content that competes with its own content or partners, he believes that could raise antitrust problems. "We believe consumers need to have notice and consent about what they're getting," Leibowitz said. "It's very, very important that these providers tell consumers about the speed they're getting, and whether [providers] are making any types of management decisions in terms of the network that affect consumers."

This would be a new role for the FTC. Until now, the Federal Communications Commission has handled all net-neutrality complaints. Leibowitz said net neutrality is a consumer protection issue, one of the main functions of the FTC.

For more on net neutrality and the FTC:
- check out this PC World article