NextGenWeb recently attended the University of San Francisco School of Law symposium on Net neutrality. Check back next week for our full feature on the symposium.

California PUC Commissioner/ California Broadband Task Force member Rachelle Chong delivered the symposium keynote speech. A one time FCC Commissioner appointed by President Clinton, Ms. Chong was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission by Governor Schwarzenegger in January, 2006. She has been a career communications regulatory attorney, practicing before the FCC and the PUC. At the California PUC, she has been deeply involved in issues relating to telecommunications regulation and consumer education.

During her keynote speech, Commissioner Chong discussed how a hands-off regulatory approach has fueled Internet innovation and how open market structures have shaped its success. She also spoke about her recent paper titled “The 31 Flavors of Net Neutrality: Beware of the Trojan Horse” which argues that Net neutrality is a concept with many unintended consequences.

After the keynote, NextGenWeb conducted a v-cast interview with Ms. Chong. The Commissioner discussed the CA Telehealth Network and how unnecessary regulation provisions would affect the ability for the Telehealth Network to deliver its intended services. She also spoke about the California Broadband Task Force and its recommendations to provide broadband access to the 4% of California residents who are currently unconnected to broadband.

Click below to watch her interview and highlights from the panel discussion