Public outcry over the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to regulate net neutrality that could possibly make Internet content providers like Netflix or Google to pay broadband providers for faster connectivity has forced federal regulators to reconsider its proposed policy, The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend.
The FCC is attempting to enact policy regulation for net neutrality, a concept that would it prohibit Internet providers like the cable or cellular companies from filtering, slowing or otherwise limiting the data traffic that flows over their networks. The backlash against the FCC came when its recent proposal allowed for "paid prioritization" which would allow broadband providers to charge more for companies to deliver their services (like movies on Netflix) to consumers. In essence, companies would have to pay to be in the "fast lane" of Internet service.
Craig Aaron, president and CEO of non-profit advocacy group Free Press, said that FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is feeling the pressure to enact meaningful and sustainable policy to regulate net neutrality.
"[The FCC is] asking better questions. But they can't do what they claim they want to do with their preferred legal approach. It won't work,” Aaron said in an email to ReadWrite.
If the FCC leans on its full legal authority, a provision known as Title II of the Communications Act, it could treat Internet access as a public utility which would allow it to have more regulatory freedom over net neutrality. In January, a court denied the FCC's ability to regulate net neutrality based on how Internet providers are currently classified by law.
"The FCC needs to adopt clear rules prohibiting blocking and discrimination online,” Chris Riley, senior policy engineer at Mozilla, said in a recent blog post.
Proposal’s by Mozilla and others will be heard this week by the FCC when it meets to vote on the plan, but it is not clear in any way if regulators will actually be swayed by such arguments.
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