CRIME/ECONOMY/FCC/FTC: “The federal cop that polices much of the internet is about to shift, a move that could lead to a fundamental reshaping of the online economy.
Under the Federal Communications Commission’s plans to step back from the top internet-enforcement job, the Federal Trade Commission will again regulate how internet-service providers operate, reassuming a role it held until two years ago. The shift, which the commission is expected to approve next month, will usher in a new and potentially dramatic phase of the internet’s development and the way consumers experience it.
The new regime is expected to give the carriers that control the internet’s pipes, such as Comcast Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc., more influence over the internet landscape, as well as consumers’ choices, at a time when the companies are developing ambitious plans for their online businesses.
Already, the planned shift is generating a vigorous debate over which regulatory approach is really best for the internet. Advocates of rules forged under the Obama administration say the proposed change promises to be a boon to the giant internet-service providers and is likely bad news for consumers…
The FTC focuses on enforcement of broad consumer protections against deceptive and unfair trade practices, while the FCC is charged with consumer protection and promotion of communications networks through a technocratic and rules-based approach.”
-John D. McKinnon, “The People Who Police the Internet Are Changing,” The Wall Street Journal online, Nov. 29, 2017 12:26pm