Internet: "telecom" or "information" service?

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that the US Federal Communications Commission erred in classifying broadband Internet delivered via cable TV as an "information service" when it is actually a "telecommunications service," too. The difference is that "information services" are only lightly regulated, while "telecommunications services" must offer interconnection to competitors. Under the previous designation, cable television networks in the US were not obliged to let their customers subscribe to Internet access services offered by other companies. That had a devastating impact on local ISPs as broadband grew in popularity. If yesterday's decision is upheld, it could have much broader implications, as the issue of whether Internet is an "information" or a "telecommunications" service has nothing to do with bandwidth.