The FCC voted on the topic of Net Neutrality today and passed strong rules to pass the open Internet. They also pushed Title II to reclassify ISPs as utilities and protect access similar to water and electricity.
You can view a 5-page document from the FCC detailing the results of today’s meeting and vote.
The new rules include:
- No blocking of content, applications, services, or devices
- No throttling
- No paid prioritization
- Standards for addressing future concerns as the Internet continues to evolve
- Increases transparency to ISP operations
- Reasonable network management
- Power for the FCC to address complaints of interconnection exchange of traffic
- Reclassifies broadband access under Title II with certain exemptions from utility-style regulations
This should be a good move for consumers by protecting the Open Internet and possibly increasing competition and options for broadband Internet access.
Today, the Commission—once and for all—enacts strong, sustainable rules, grounded in multiple sources of legal authority, to ensure that Americans reap the economic, social, and civic benefits of an Open Internet today and into the future. These new rules are guided by three principles: America’s broadband networks must be fast, fair and open—principles shared by the overwhelming majority of the nearly 4 million commenters who participated in the FCC’s Open Internet proceeding.
Consumer reactions have been generally positive. Verizon threw a temper tantrum with Morse code while Sprint applauded the change. Other reactions, such as raising rates will tell in good time.