FCC CONFIRMS 'NET NEUTRALITY' INTERNET ACCESS - Denies Push To Throttle And Charge More For Faster Service

(02/28/2015)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted this week to accept FCC chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal that the Commission "use its Title II authority to implement and enforce open Internet protections," referred to a "net neutrality." Wheeler said this new stance "will ensure the Internet remains open, now and in the future, for all Americans." Media corporations and Republicans in Congress have been pushing to throttle broadband programing to be able to charge higher fees for service, called "fast lanes." Their plan called for slowing down or speeding up sites for additional fees. Under the new rule, providers may not favor lawful Internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for financial considerations. The new provision serves notice to Comcast, Verzion, and other last-mile ISPs that they can no longer charge Netflix or other content providers, for Internet access. The affirmation of "net neutrality" passed by a party line vote of three Democrats over the two Republicans. The Republicans claimed that the FCC was over-reaching its authority by putting in a secret Obama plan for net neutrality, Wheeler calling the stance "ridiculous." Ajit Pai, a Republican commissioner, said the rules were government meddling in a vibrant, competitive market and were likely to deter investment, undermine innovation and ultimately harm consumers. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas portrayed the F.C.C. rule-making process as a heavy-handed liberal initiative, "Obamacare for the Internet." Wheeler said, "This is the FCC using all the tools in our toolbox to protect innovators and consumers; to ban paid prioritization, the so called fast lane. [This] will not divide the Internet into haves and have-nots."

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