Should the Internet be regulated just like a utility?
That’s a question now being debated, after President Obama made that suggestion. It was a topic at a recent meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. North Dakota Public Service Commission chairman Brian Kalk participated in some of those discussions. He says it’s a very complex issue.
"Think of all the investment that's been done in the Internet and telecomm with the current set of rules," said Kalk. "Why would we stifle that down?"
Kalk says AT&T backed off on its investment plans, once the company heard about the President's plans.
Commissioner Randy Christmann says there are some concerns.
"For example, a Netflix-type company puts the investment in and then gets control, rather than a government controlling it," said Christmann. "I don't mean to pick on Netflix, but it's one example of an enormous user in the room that can potentially lock everything up."
Both Christmann and Kalk say at first blush, they come down on the side of free enterprise – but the matter bears further discussion.