This week, the Federal Communications Commission chose to end discussions aimed at finding a compromise on how and whether to regulate the Internet.  In doing so, the FCC is solidifying it’s alliance with neo-Marxist media reform groups to place 1930’s era regulations on top of our modern day broadband Internet.

The FCC facilitated the talks between anti-regulation Internet service providers and pro-“Net Neutrality” websites, who want the Commission to establish rules for managing Internet data traffic.  However, as discussions evolved over the past months, the FCC continued its infamous “Title II” proceedings, which would be used to both enact Net Neutrality under arcane laws and open the door to numerous other regulations.

As soon as the talks appeared to become fruitful (with both sides coming to some agreement), the neo-Marxists who have the ear of FCC Chairman Genachowski balked.  “It is the end of the Internet as we know it,” whined Josh Silver of Free Press, decrying the fact that private Internet companies were reaching agreement on their most contentious policy issue.  Then, almost on a dime, the FCC halted the discussions, somehow blaming it on select parties for reportedly reaching a deal on one way to quickly deliver content.

The truth is the FCC is held hostage by the neo-Marxists at Free Press, Public Knowledge, and Media Access Project, for whom regulating the Internet is not about how companies should manage Internet traffic.  For these groups, its about giving government the ability to turn the Internet into a de facto public utility with the authority to set prices, monitor content, and establish other regulations.

These organizations also appear to serve as the FCC’s public relations offices.  Suspiciously, this situation mirrors one in May when the FCC was reportedly backing down from enacting Net Neutrality.  After Free Press began a campaign to manufacture public support, the FCC announced its heavy regulatory Title II proposal two days later.  It is no coincidence that Chairman Genachowski’s press secretary is the former communications director of Free Press.

Now that the FCC has backed away from finding consensus on regulation, expect for the Commission’s Title II Internet takeover scheme to continue unabated.  And expect for Free Press, Public Knowledge, and others to continue pulling the FCC further and further to the left.