The Federal Communications Commission voted in favor of major changes to Internet regulation, including adopting Net Neutrality. Essentially, the FCC has determined that Internet service is like a public utility and should be regulated as one.
Since the Internet became a major form of communication, the government had tried a hands-off approach to regulation, but some companies began to push for Net Neutrality.
By adopting Net Neutrality, it means that Internet service providers, like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T, could no longer show favoritism to some sites and streaming services. For example, if Netflix pays Verizon, customers could get faster streams from Netflix compared to other sites. If Verizon decides it doesn’t want its customers to have great access to Netflix for whatever reason, it could slow down access.
Obviously, Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and other providers were against passing Net Neutrality, so a legal challenge isn’t too far off. There was even dissent about the new regulations among the FCC, as the vote was 3-2, along party lines, notes the Wall Street Journal.
Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai said Thursday that the new regulations are a “monumental shift” to “government control of the Internet,” notes Fox News. He suggested that the only reason the FCC even changed the rules was because President Obama voiced his support for Net Neutrality in November.
It’s important to note that nothing is going to change instantly. According to CNN, the rules will not be official until this summer at the earliest and, even then, the telecommunications companies that oppose the rules could get them delayed.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com