New Net
Neutrality Rules Changes Coming |
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The
Federal Commmunications Commission (FCC) under new
management plans on returning the Internet to a period when
there was less regulations.
This is known as Net Neutrality.
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From it’s inception over 20 years ago the Internet was
allowed to flourished (under the Telecommunications Act of
1996) due to a hands-off approach by the government.
However, in 2015 that changed when the Internet was
placed under heavy regulations.
The current FCC administration seeks to return the
Internet back to an environment with less regulation.
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During the period of less regulation the Internet thrived
because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) invested
approximately $1.5 trillion in building networks, and
American consumers enthusiastically responded. The Internet
became an ever-increasing part of the American economy,
offering new and innovative changes in how we work, learn,
and play, receive health care, create and enjoy
entertainment, and communicate with one another. During that
time, there was bipartisan agreement that the Internet
should be free of burdensome regulation so that it could
continue to flourish.
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The 2015 decision to regulate the Internet as if they were
utilities placed heavy regulatory burden on ISP’s and
resulted in less investment in infrastructure.
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The FCC has proposed to:
-Reinstate the "information service" classification of
broadband Internet access service first established on a
bipartisan basis during the Clinton Administration.
-Restore the determination that mobile broadband is not a
"commercial mobile service" subject to heavy-handed
regulation.
-Restore the authority of the nation's most experienced cop
on the privacy beat – the Federal Trade Commission – to
police the privacy practices of ISPs.
-Maintain the four "Internet Freedoms" include the freedom
to access lawful content, the freedom to use applications,
the freedom to attach personal devices to the network, and
the freedom to obtain service plan information.
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Those who oppose this change claims that the ISP’s will be
able to control which websites gets faster access over the
Internet. The
ISP’s claim that they will be able to offer services at
different speeds and cost that can meet the needs of the
consumer.
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The comment period is over.
A final decision will be made soon.
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Sources:
Federal Commmunications Commission (FCC)
By Wendy
Stewart
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