President Pushes for Net Neutrality as FCC Considers Internet Rules (video)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 9, 2014)
The Federal Communications Commission is considering the issue of Net Neutrality, the principles that keep the internet accessible and fair to everyone. President Barack Obama today called upon the FCC to reclassify broadband Internet access under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, protecting it as an essential communications tool for the public.
“Internet providers have a legal obligation not to block or limit your access to a website,” Obama said in a statement Monday morning. “Cable companies can’t decide which online stores you should shop at or which streaming services you can use. And they can’t let any company pay for priority over its competitors.”
The rules Obama called for included:
~No blocking. If a consumer requests access to a website or service, and the content is legal, your ISP should not be permitted to block it. That way, every player — not just those commercially affiliated with an ISP — gets a fair shot at your business.
~No throttling. Nor should ISPs be able to intentionally slow down some content or speed up others — through a process often called “throttling” — based on the type of service or your ISP’s preferences.
~Increased transparency. The connection between consumers and ISPs — the so-called “last mile” — is not the only place some sites might get special treatment. So, I am also asking the FCC to make full use of the transparency authorities the court recently upheld, and if necessary to apply net neutrality rules to points of interconnection between the ISP and the rest of the Internet.
~No paid prioritization. Simply put: No service should be stuck in a “slow lane” because it does not pay a fee. That kind of gatekeeping would undermine the level playing field essential to the Internet’s growth. So, as I have before, I am asking for an explicit ban on paid prioritization and any other restriction that has a similar effect.
It is unclear how the FCC will respond to the proposed rules. In January a court struck down the previous “Open Internet Order,” forcing them to reconsider their approach to regulation. FCC Chairperson Tom Wheeler then released new rules giving Internet Services Provides leeway in censorship and restricting access. Over 400,000 Americans have contacted the White House and FCC to insist upon reclassification so that regulations can keep all members of the public in mind.
“The Internet has been one of the greatest gifts our economy — and our society — has ever known. The FCC was chartered to promote competition, innovation, and investment in our networks. In service of that mission, there is no higher calling than protecting an open, accessible, and free Internet. I thank the Commissioners for having served this cause with distinction and integrity, and I respectfully ask them to adopt the policies I have outlined here, to preserve this technology’s promise for today, and future generations to come,” President Obama said.
To keep up with the latest on Net Neutrality and other media-related issues, see http://www.freepress.net. Those who want to stand up for net neutrality can get involved at http://www.savetheinternet.com.
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/07/18/small-businesses-can-sign-up-to-support-true-net-neutrality/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/05/15/fcc-moves-forward-with-two-tiered-internet-plan-undermining-net-neutrality/