FCC boss Ajit Pai has given the first details of how he plans to dismantle the "net-neutrality" rules set during the Obama administration.
Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai on Wednesday took the first steps in his plan to roll back the key component of the “net-neutrality” order set during the Obama administration.
In a speech given in Washington, DC, Pai said he has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to the rest of the agency that will reverse the current rules' classification of internet service providers (or “ISPs”) as utility-like telecommunication services under Title II of the Communications Act.
Instead, Pai wants to return ISPs to being “information service providers” under Title I of the Act. That’s what they were considered prior to the 2015 rules. This, in effect, would leave ISPs with less federal oversight into what they can and cannot do within their networks.
All of that sounds hugely unsexy, but it’s significant. The net-neutrality order as it stands now legally prevents ISPs like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon from blocking or slowing the speeds of internet companies like Netflix or Snapchat, and from creating so-called “fast lanes” for certain sites and apps in exchange for payment.
For instance, a Comcast cannot slow down a YouTube — or, more notably, a future YouTube — to make its preferred services more appealing, nor can it let YouTube pay for faster service than every other video site.
Most large ISPs have promised to abide by the principles of net-neutrality regardless, however. Like Pai, they argue that the Title II classification is unnecessary to enforce them.
In the speech Wednesday, Pai reiterated past arguments that the more stringent regulations involved with the net-neutrality rules have slowed ISPs' willingness to expand and upgrade their broadband networks, and thus hurt job growth. Some studies have concurred with that assertion, though net-neutrality advocates say it’s difficult to separate the effect of Title II in a vacuum from the wider economic trends of the telecoms industry.
Pai did not give a direct, one-to-one replacement for the current rules, but said the agency will seek comment from the public on how best to approach the "no blocking/throttling/paid prioritization" piece of them.
That is likely to kick off an extremely contentious, months-long debate. Democrats on the Hill and various consumer advocacy groups strongly favor the current rules, as do several major and minor internet-based companies. A group of more than 800 startups urged Pai not to dismantle the current net-neutrality regulations earlier on Wednesday, for one.
Pai said he will make the full text of his proposal available to the public on Thursday. The FCC will then vote on Pai's proposal at its next open meeting on May 18.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
FCC boss Ajit Pai has given the first details of how he plans to dismantle the "net-neutrality" rules set during the Obama administration. Read Full Story
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