FCC Open Internet Disclosure Rule for ISPs Effective November 20, 2011

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Benjamin Clark

The FCC issued its Final Rule on Friday, September 23, 2011 entitled "Preserving the Open Internet".  In the Rule, the FCC seeks to "preserve the Internet as an open platform for innovation, investment, job creation, economic growth, competition, and free expression."  To further that goal, the FCC adopted three basic rules for fixed and mobile broadband providers:

  1. Transparency: broadband providers must disclose network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms of their broadband services.
  2. No Blocking: fixed broadband providers may not block lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.
  3. No Unreasonable Discrimination: fixed broadband providers may not unreasonably discriminate in transmitting lawful network traffic.

Although all rules become effective November 20, 2011, the transparency requirement creates an affirmative duty for fixed and mobile broadband providers to disclose certain information on their websites or in their stores by November 20, 2011.  This information includes the disclosure of network practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms. 

Tags: , , , ,

Internet Usage

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Liz Overton

Julie Elgar of That’s What She Said uses the employees of The Office to illustrate the pervasiveness of internet use in the workplace. Elgar recognizes that unmonitored internet usage can lead to a decline of productivity and even worse harassment among employees. What should employers do? As Elgar says it’s important to develop a monitoring system and inform the employees that the system is in place.   Communicating the policy to the employees reduces their exepctation of privacy in the workplace.  Inform employees of any disciplinary policy you may have regarding violations of the intenet usage policy.

 

Photo on flickr by *diggin an old dude*

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,