FCC to repeal net neutrality rules, tech companies against it

Published on December 15, 2017

There has been much controversy around the subject of net neutrality in the last couple of weeks. After endless protests, U.S. Telecom regulators finally announced repealing existing net neutrality rules. Internet service providers will no longer be restricted when it comes to influencing loading speeds for websites or applications. Strict regulations bound Internet providers during Obama’s reign. However, the Republican majority of the Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote towards loosening the Obama ties on Internet providers.

FCC to repeal net neutrality rules, tech companies against it

According to a report by NPR, the rules had been established back in 2015 by the Obama government. Cable and telecom companies were banned from monitoring the speed of websites or applications. Broadband providers were even prohibited from striking private partnerships with possible sites or apps, for priority purpose. The Obama government believed in the principle of Internet providers playing the role of neutral gateways, wherein users were provided with equal access to all legal web content. The official FCC body will reassert only one of the many net neutrality requirements. Internet providers, including Comcast, AT&T and Verizon are expected to be transparent with their customers regarding their web traffic. Through this method, the Federal Trade Commission is given all enforcement.

Meanwhile, broadband companies have long expressed their disagreement over this matter. According to them, they never intended on slowing down web experiences for their users for any given platform. Prioritizing web traffic for specific applications was never on their list-to-do. Following the repeal, broadband companies have been empowered with the ability to play roles as gatekeepers. Advocacy groups, however, aren’t too happy about this decision. They are reportedly pressing Congress to stop the vote from coming into effect under the Congressional Review Act. Major technology companies, including Netflix, Google and Facebook are also in support of the same.

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