Each year, I review the President’s State of the Union speech, listening carefully for a reference to telecommunications. Although there was no mention of telecommunications Tuesday night — even as part of his discussion regarding the importance of building a strong national infrastructure — President Obama did make three references to the Internet. Two of the references were benign, but the third was a clear reference to his position and policy regarding Net Neutrality.

The President said, “I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom and every community, and help folks build the fastest networks, so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.”

A “free and open” Internet is the subject of pending regulations by the FCC and will more than likely be discussed by Congress as part of the revised Telecommunications Act or as specific legislation.

Currently, the Republicans in Congress are drafting legislation that would bar Internet service providers from blocking or slowing content, or from charging sites for faster access to customers. The bill’s other purpose is to prevent the FCC from reclassifying the Internet as a Title II telecommunications service. There is a difference of opinion as to how much power the FCC should have in regulating the Internet. The Courts have determined the FCC has very little power to regulate the Internet when it is classified as an Information Technology service. If the service is successfully reclassified, it would have the ability to regulate the Internet service providers.

Congressional Republicans seem to have agreed that supporting Net Neutrality is important. However, they do not want to see the FCC’s mandate expanded. This will be very interesting as the FCC is much further along in determining its course of action relative to regulating and maintaining the Internet.

This could be one of the most important debates and decisions of the young century because, during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, nearly every product innovation included an Internet or wireless connection. In fact, Samsung indicated their entire product portfolio would be Internet-enabled, thus making the strongest commitment to the Internet of Things of any major manufacturing company. It is the growth of IoT, multimedia, VoIP and Unified Communications that requires the Internet to be “open” in support of increasing business and consumer demand.

Let’s hope they get it right.