Last year, the FCC proposed rules that would regulate Internet Service Providers as utilities. This move was generally seen as a good thing for consumers, and was applauded by many consumer groups, save for a provision that seemed to allow ISPs to grant higher speeds to businesses who agree to pay premium prices, which would effectively end Net Neutrality. To add to the apprehension of net neutrality proponents, FCC Chariman, Tom Wheeler, is a former lobbyist for the telecom industry so it was expected that he would favor his former employers in the new regulations. However, this appears to no longer be the case, as the FCC announced today a new proposal to regulate Internet Service Providers and protect net neutrality that are far more draconian than anyone expected.
There are a lot details about this, and I won’t cover them here. I’d rather focus on what that means to you as someone who partakes in a hobby that is becoming increasingly dependent on internet connectivity. If you would like to get more detailed information, this Washington Post article has very good coverage.
The most significant shift on the FCC’s position comes on the issue of providers manipulating speeds and access for certain customers. In an editorial for Wired, Tom Wheeler said:
These enforceable, bright-line rules will ban paid prioritization, and the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services. I propose to fully apply—for the first time ever—those bright-line rules to mobile broadband. My proposal assures the rights of internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone’s permission.
[…] To preserve incentives for broadband operators to invest in their networks, my proposal will modernize Title II, tailoring it for the 21st century, in order to provide returns necessary to construct competitive networks. For example, there will be no rate regulation, no tariffs, no last-mile unbundling.
This was reflected in the proposal, which will make prioritization of web traffic illegal. Besides that, the proposal will also ban blocking access to specific websites (although I imagine there will be caveats to this). Perhaps the most interesting development is that this will not only extend to formal internet providers, like Time Warner or Comcast, but also extend to Wireless carriers, such as T-Mobile and Sprint.
Whether it was public pressure directly, or pressure put on by Washington, this abrupt shift in the FCC’s stance of net neutrality is good news to consumers. However, this is far from over. The FCC still has not voted on it, and it won’t do so for a few months. Even if it passes, Internet Service Providers and interest groups that represent them are almost sure to sue. If this issue is important to you then it’s still critical that you make your voice heard to the people who can apply pressure to the FCC. It has worked so far.
As always, remember to contact YOUR representatives, since politician tend to only pay attention to those who can ensure they stay in office.
To weigh in:
Federal Communications Comission
Find your Representative in the House
