FCC poised to repeal net neutrality protections

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/364795-fcc-poised-to-repeal-net-neutrality-protections


FCC poised to repeal net neutrality protections
By Harper Neidig - 12/14/17 06:06 AM EST


The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to repeal net neutrality regulations on Thursday, a move that has provoked a massive uproar both tech giants and internet users.

The FCC will likely vote along party lines later today to approve Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to scrap the Obama-era rules that require internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally. Net neutrality supporters say that the move to repeal the 2015 rules will upend the level playing field that businesses enjoy on the internet and disrupt the free flow of information online.

“Together with his Republican colleagues, Chairman Pai will shrink consumer protection, competition and innovation ten sizes too small, delivering the goodies instead — like price hikes, extra tolls and users’ personal information to sell — to giant broadband providers like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon,” said Gigi Sohn, who served as an adviser to Pai’s Democratic predecessor.

Pai, who voted against the original rules as a minority commissioner under the Obama administration, argues that the rules are too heavy-handed and that there is little reason to worry about internet service providers abusing their powers over the internet.

For its part, the broadband industry, which vehemently opposes the rules, has tried to reassure consumers that they will not be hurt by the regulatory rollback.

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http://thehill.com/policy/technology/364795-fcc-poised-to-repeal-net-neutrality-protections