FCC Unveils Plan To Rollback Net Neutrality [VIDEO]

April 27, 2017 Politics, Technology

The New York Times reports:

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday outlined a sweeping plan to loosen the government’s oversight of high-speed internet providers, a rebuke of a landmark policy approved two years ago to ensure that all online content is treated the same by the companies that deliver broadband service to Americans. The chairman, Ajit Pai, said high-speed internet service should no longer be treated like a public utility with strict rules, as it is now. The move would, in effect, largely leave the industry to police itself.

The plan is Mr. Pai’s most forceful action in his race to roll back rules that govern telecommunications, cable and broadcasting companies, which he says are harmful to business. But he is certain to face a contentious battle with the consumers and tech companies that rallied around the existing rules, which are meant to prevent broadband providers like AT&T and Comcast from giving special treatment to any streaming videos, news sites and other content.

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Democrats, activists, and web companies are already coming out in opposition to Pai’s plans. Senator Bill Nelson, ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a statement that “depriving the FCC of its ongoing, forward-looking oversight of the broadband industry amounts to a dereliction of duty at a time when guaranteeing an open internet is more critical than ever.”

The Internet Association, a group that represents more than 40 top internet companies, including Google, Facebook, and Netflix, said there was no reason to change the rules. “The current FCC net neutrality rules are working and these consumer protections should not be changed,” said the group’s CEO, Michael Beckerman. “Consumers pay for access to the entire internet free from blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization.”

A group of 800 startups and investors, led by Y Combinator, also released a letter this morning directed to Pai, saying, “We’re deeply concerned with your intention to undo the existing legal framework.” While the ACLU and 170 other advocacy groups wrote Pai last month asking for him to preserve the 2015 rules.

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