News
The addition of democrat Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could be key in the rule’s reinstatement
On Thursday, the FCC has voted to advance a proposal to reinstate open internet protections, more commonly known as net neutrality.
The new rules are now open for public commentary and will be voted on again in the coming months.
The FCC voted 3-2 on a proposal to reinstate the rules and reestablish the Commission’s authority over how internet providers handle network traffic. The move comes after the Democrats took control of the FCC (comprised of five members) for the first time since Biden’s presidency began, with the long-vacant fifth and final seat was filled by Democrat Anna Gomez last month. The previous standstill of the commission was caused by a 2-2 political voting deadlock, after Biden’s initial preferred candidate, Gigi Sohn, faced fierce objections from the Republican party.
The main principle of net neutrality is that everyone should receive the same access to internet content without interference by their service provider.
The legislation has long been the cause of deep political debate. President Obama imposed the laws in November 2015, which were then rescinded by President Trump when he took office.
Critics of net neutrality argue that preventing ISPs from charging different prices for different services disincentivises companies from innovation. Such critics include Republican FCC Commissioner Brandon Carr, who argues that since Trump’s abolition of the rules, “broadband speeds in the U.S. have increased, prices are down (and) competition has intensified.” He warns that that, if reinstated, these net neutrality rules would result in governmental control of the internet.
In contrast, those in favour of net neutrality argue that the laws will ensure that everyone gets access to the same internet, and that ISPs will not be able to control what information consumers can access.
According to FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement, the pandemic “made it crystal clear that broadband is no longer nice-to-have; it’s need-to-have for everyone, everywhere. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It is essential infrastructure for modern life. […] Yet even as our society has reconfigured itself to do so much online, our institutions have failed to keep pace.”
Critics of net neutrality argue that preventing ISPs from charging different prices for different services disincentivises companies from innovation. Such critics include Republican FCC Commissioner Brandon Carr, who argues that since Trump’s abolition of the rules, “broadband speeds in the U.S. have increased, prices are down (and) competition has intensified.” He warns that that, if reinstated, these net neutrality rules would result in governmental control of the internet.
In contrast, those in favour of net neutrality argue that the laws will ensure that everyone gets access to the same internet, and that ISPs will not be able to control what information consumers can access.
“The law requires telecommunications providers to protect the confidentiality of the proprietary information of their customers,” said Rosenworcel in a statement. “That means that these providers cannot sell your location data, among other sensitive information. Those privacy protections currently extend to voice customers but not broadband subscribers. Does that really make sense? Do we want our broadband providers selling what we do online? Scraping our service for a payday from new artificial intelligence models? Doing any of this without our permission?”
“Today, there is no expert agency ensuring that the internet is fast, open, and fair,” she added.
“And for everyone, everywhere to enjoy the full benefits of the internet age, internet access needs to be more than just accessible and affordable. The internet needs to be open.”
Join the conversation around Net Neutrality at next year’s Connected America, March 12-13, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. Book your tickets now!
Also in the news:
Ice Norway doubles down on Mavenir with cloud-native IMS deal
Vivendi wants shareholders to vote on KKR deal
Only a test: T-Mobile CEO downplays customer migration plans
