Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Friday, November 17, 2017

FCC Plans Dec. Vote to Kill Net Neutrality Rules

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission next month is planning a vote to kill Obama-era rules demanding fair treatment of web traffic and may decide to vacate the regulations altogether, according to people familiar with the plans.

The move would reignite a years-long debate that has seen Republicans and broadband providers seeking to eliminate the rules, while Democrats and technology companies support them. The regulations passed in 2015 bar broadband providers such as AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp. from interfering with web traffic sent by Google, Facebook Inc.and others.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, chosen by President Donald Trump, in April proposed gutting the rules and asked for public reaction. The agency has taken in more than 22 million comments on the matter.

More/Video

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Reprehensible. This is giving internet power and control to the companies with the most incentive to stifle competition.

There is not a single good argument, not one, that supports ending net neutrality, none. If you don't support net neutrality, I argue you don't understand it.

Follow the money folks. That is what this is about. Isn't it funny that almost all internet and technology companies SUPPORT Net Neutrality, and only the service providers (who stand to make windfall profits and crush competition) will benefit from it.

It's like a fox asking for the gate to be opened to the chicken house, and he promises not to eat the chickens. Seriously? We trust companies like Comcast? AT&T? Companies with NOTORIOUSLY poor service and a history of lying and ripping off their customers?

Reprehensible. This is bad for Americans, bad for consumers, bad for competition, and bad for capitalism.