A curious pep rally for net neutrality

It’s chilling to think Commissioners Copps and Clyburn, if joined by Chairman Genachowski, could make worse the already weak economy by threatening the broadband investment spigot with net neutrality regulations.  If they truly think that we need a radically different broadband policy — or that the compromise fashioned by Google and Verizon won’t work — then let them submit their ideas to our elected representatives in Congress.  Perhaps they’re aware that a majority of members have already made clear they have no appetite for that proposal.

The rhetorical meeting at South High School isn’t all that will happen Thursday.   Coincidentally, Minnesota’s July unemployment figures will be released as well.  While Minnesota is doing better than the national average, the numbers should serve as a cold reminder that the regulations that Free Press favors would be an unwanted drag on the nascent recovery, as well as a recipe for an Internet that’s stuck in “neutral.”

Ev Ehrlich is the former Undersecretary of Commerce for President Clinton and a former assistant director at the Congressional Budget Office.  Mr. Ehrlich is a nationally recognized policy expert on technology and broadband issues, and founded ESC Company, an economic consulting company in Washington, DC.