Broadcasters Benefit From Net Neutrality

[Commentary] Broadcasters scored a great victory in Washington and it didn't cost them anything -- not one, solitary political chit. Make no mistake, broadcasters are winners. Sure, they are going to develop and implement a new broadcast standard -- ATSC 3.0 -- that is going to allow them to bypass the Internet and maintain their independence in the delivery of TV to every screen, big and small. But they will also remain in the digital business through websites, apps and involvement in TV Everywhere and budding services like CBS All Access.

The new regulations say that the broadcasters' services will reach consumers with the same speed as any of their rivals, regardless of size or ownership. Among other things, broadcasters won't have to worry about Comcast or Verizon favoring their own content as it passed through their pipelines.

The National Association of Broadcasters was wise to stay out of the fray. It's highly controversial and partisan. Backing net neutrality, especially as defined by President Barack Obama and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler, would have put NAB at odds with their Republican allies in Congress and at the FCC. As it is, they came out on the side of the winners. They still get to pretend they are anti-regulation and they didn't have spend any of their political capital.