Free Press’ Josh Silver refers to the position of net neutrality opponents, such as former Tennessee U.S. Representative Harold Ford, as blind abandonment of reasonable government oversight.

Blind abandonment of reasonable government oversight?

Forgetting the tenuous arguments against Mr. Ford’s position on net neutrality, net neutrality is far from reasonable oversight. Such a policy will only create negative social costs in the form of reduced availability of services and higher costs.

In addition, Mr. Silver’s interpretation of the United States Court of Appeal’s ruling in favor of Comcast is incorrect. The Federal Communications Commission is still fully in charge of the nation’s interstate communications network. What the FCC is not in charge of, and rightfully so, is how a broadband provider may manage its network.

I agree that for a significant number of people, especially unserved and underserved minority communities, broadband specifically, and the Internet in general, is not affordable. Driving up the costs of network management, however, will not solve the affordability problem.