Back on Nov. 10th, 2o14, in the midst of the battle over the net neutrality ruling by the FCC coming up on Feb. 27th, Pres. Obama proposed four “common sense” rules he would like to see enacted by the non-politically-aligned department. Here they are from The Guardian:
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No blocking. If a consumer requests access to a website or service, and the content is legal, an internet service provider (ISP) should not be permitted to block it.
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No “throttling”. ISPs should not be allowed to intentionally slow down some content or speed up others – a process often called “throttling”.
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Increased transparency. Internet service is not just about the so-called “last mile” – the connection to a customer’s home, said Obama. The FCC should monitor for potential abuses across the network.
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No paid prioritization. Obama came out firmly against “fast” and “slow” lanes arguing against cable firm’s charging higher fees for faster service. He called for an “explicit ban on paid prioritization and any other restriction that has a similar effect
But it looks we have possibly something even better. After 4 million messages from internet activists were sent to lawmakers and FCC Chair Tom Wheeler, Mr. Wheeler will be proposing that the internet be regulated by the Type II regulations according to a letter he sent to and was published by Wired Magazine.
If this ruling goes through with at least a 3-2 vote, internet service providers (ISP) will be governed like phone companies with the FCC protecting us from predatory corporations wanting to make the internet a “tiered system.” If that were the case, ISPs like Comcast or Time Warner would enable corporations who pay them the most to have faster download times and leave other ones by the wayside. But that cannot happen.
It has been put best by this quote by Pres. Obama:
An open internet is essential to the American economy, and increasingly to our very way of life. By lowering the cost of launching a new idea, igniting new political movements, and bringing communities closer together, it has been one of the most significant democratizing influences the world has ever known.
Contact the FCC and have your opinion heard!
