This Week: The Vote on Net Neutrality
Today the FCC is voting to reclassify broadband internet as a Title II telecommunications service that will fall under the 1934 Communications Act.
What does this mean? Well, it means that there will be equal access to broadband space for everyone, regardless of how big they are or how deep their pockets are. It is intended as a protection against something like what has happened in the cable television industry, where your provider gets to pick and choose what you have access to and how much it costs (for the producer of the media as well as the consumer) for that access. In other words, it is supposed to ensure that the internet stays an open and level playing field.
Why is this controversial? Well, some are afraid that if the FCC takes over regulation, it may allow the FCC to have a say in setting rates or applying taxes, which will discourage innovation and curb the growth that results from competition. As of now, the FCC has said that it will ignore the provisions that don’t apply to broadband, and that rate-setting or taxing are some of those provisions. However, major providers and some politicians are afraid that the FCC will change its mind about that later on, and that this could result in a slippery-slope situation that could eventually result in higher consumer costs and lower quality service.
Once this vote happens, is it over? No, probably not. There will most likely be lawsuits challenging the vote. According to CNET, AT&T, Verizon, and some cable companies have already said that they are likely to file legal challenges, and some Republican Congressmen have crafted legislation that would keep in place all of the basic Net Neutrality rules but would strip the FCC of regulatory authority.
Will we see any changes to how we use the Internet? Not immediately, anyway. The question is whether broadband providers really will decide not to invest in their network infrastructure out of fear of high costs and regulation, and that will take time to assess.
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