Wheeler move latest blow to bipartisan Internet

[Commentary] While many things in Washington seemed broken over the past few decades, tech policy has not been one of them. Regardless of which party controlled Congress or the Federal Communication Commission, technology issues enjoyed civil discourse, bipartisan collaboration and thoughtful compromise. Partisanship stopped at the network's edge. Until now.

The borderline theological debate over "net neutrality" is breaking the rules and threatening an approach that served our nation well. Policy deliberations once decided by non-partisan engineers have been hijacked by the Occupy Wall Street versus Tea Party legions. Battle is joined, lobbyists engaged, grassroots activated. And the war reached new heights as FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed regulating our most advanced companies based on the rules designed for our oldest. A productive, bipartisan answer to the net neutrality challenge is staring us in the face. Congress makes the laws, and Congressional action here can be bipartisan, focused and effective, ensuring the Internet remains "fair and open."

[Mehlman and Irving co-founded the Internet Innovation Alliance, a coalition of business and non-profit organizations]