FCC chief plans to ditch U.S. 'net neutrality' rules
Ajit Pai
The head of the U . S . Federal Communications Commission unveiled plans on Tuesday to repeal landmark 2015 rules that prohibited internet service providers from impeding consumer access to web content in a move that promises to recast the digital landscape .  FCC chief Ajit Pai   a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump in January    said the commission will vote at a Dec . 14 meeting on  his  plan to rescind the so - called net neutrality rules championed by Democratic former President Barack Obama that treated internet service providers like public utilities . The rules barred broadband providers from blocking or slowing down access to content or charging consumers more for certain content . They were intended to ensure a free and open internet   give consumers equal access to web content and prevent broadband service providers from favoring their own content . The action marks a victory for big internet service providers such as AT & T Inc   Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc that opposed the rules and gives them sweeping powers to decide what web content consumers can get and at what price . It represents a setback for Google parent Alphabet Inc and Facebook Inc   which had urged Pai not to rescind the rules . Netflix said Tuesday it opposed the measure to “ roll back these core protections .” With three Republican and two Democratic commissioners   the move is all but certain to be approved . Trump   a Republican   expressed his opposition to net neutrality in 2014 before the regulations were even implemented   calling it a “ power grab ” by Obama . The White House did not immediately comment Tuesday .  Pai  said  his  proposal would prevent state and local governments from creating their own net neutrality rules because internet service is “ inherently an interstate service .” The preemption is most likely to handcuff Democratic - governed states and localities that could have considered their own plans to protect consumers ’ equal access to internet content . “ The FCC will no longer be in the business of micromanaging business models and preemptively prohibiting services and applications and products that could be pro - competitive  ”  Pai  said in an interview   adding that the Obama administration had sought to pick winners and losers and exercised “ heavy - handed ” regulation of the internet . “ We should simply set rules of the road that let companies of all kinds in every sector compete and let consumers decide who wins and loses  ”  Pai  added . Tom Wheeler   who headed the FCC under Obama and advocated for the net neutrality rules   called the planned repeal “ a shameful sham and sellout . Even for this FCC and its leadership   this proposal raises hypocrisy to new heights .” AT & T   Comcast and Verizon have said that repealing the rules could lead to billions of dollars in additional broadband investment and eliminate the possibility that a future presidential administration could regulate internet pricing . Comcast said no matter what the FCC decided it would “ not block   throttle   or discriminate against lawful content .” ‘ HEAVY COSTS ’ Verizon said it believed the FCC “ will reinstate a framework that protects consumers ’ access to the open internet   without forcing them to bear the heavy costs from unnecessary regulation .” Ajit Pai   Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission   testifies before a Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington   U . S .  June 20   2017 . REUTERS / Aaron P . Bernstein The Internet Association   representing major technology firms including Alphabet and Facebook   said Pai ’ s proposal “ represents the end of net neutrality as we know it and defies the will of millions of Americans .” “ This proposal undoes nearly two decades of bipartisan agreement on baseline net neutrality principles that protect Americans ’ ability to access the entire internet  ” it said . Pai ’ s proposal would require internet service providers to disclose whether they allow blocking or slowing down of consumer web access or permit so - called internet fast lanes to facilitate a practice called paid prioritization of charging for certain content . Such disclosure will make it easier for another agency   the Federal Trade Commission   to act against internet service providers that fail to disclose such conduct to consumers   Pai said . The FTC could seek to bar practices that it deemed “ anticompetitive ” or violated antitrust rules . The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) logo is seen before the FCC Net Neutrality hearing in Washington February 26   2015 . REUTERS / Yuri Gripas The FCC received more than 22 million comments . New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman disclosed Tuesday he has been investigating for more than six months in a bid to learn who was behind the filing of false comments . A U . S . appeals court last year upheld the legality of the net neutrality regulations   which were challenged in a lawsuit led by telecommunications industry trade association US Telecom . The group praised Pai ’ s decision to remove “ antiquated   restrictive regulations ” to “ pave the way for broadband network investment   expansion and upgrades .” The FCC ’ s repeal is certain to draw a legal challenge from advocates of net neutrality . Nancy Pelosi   the top U . S . House of Representatives Democrat   said the FCC move would hurt consumers and chill competition   saying the agency “ has launched an all - out assault on the entrepreneurship   innovation and competition at the heart of the internet .” The planned repeal represents the latest example of a legacy achievement of Obama being erased since Trump took office in January . Trump has abandoned international trade deals   the landmark Paris climate accord and environmental protections   taken aim at the Iran nuclear accord and closer relations with Cuba   and sought repeal Obama ’ s signature healthcare law . Pai   who has moved quickly to undo numerous regulatory actions since becoming FCC chairman   is pushing a broad deregulatory agenda . Pai said he had not shared his plans on the rollback with the White House in advance or been directed to undo net neutrality by White House officials . The FCC under Obama regulated internet service providers like public utilities under a section of federal law that gave the agency sweeping oversight over the conduct of these companies . Language in the new proposal would give the FCC significantly less authority to oversee the web . The FCC granted initial approval to Pai ’ s plan in May   but had left open many key questions including whether to retain any legal requirements limiting internet providers conduct . His plan would eliminate the “ internet conduct standard  ” which gave the FCC far - reaching discretion to prohibit improper internet service provider practices .
The head of the U . S . Federal Communications Commission unveiled plans on Tuesday to repeal landmark 2015 rules that prohibited internet service providers from impeding consumer access to web content in a move that promises to recast the digital landscape .  [TGT]said the commission will vote at a Dec . 14 meeting on  [TGT]  plan to rescind the so - called net neutrality rules championed by Democratic former President Barack Obama that treated internet service providers like public utilities . The rules barred broadband providers from blocking or slowing down access to content or charging consumers more for certain content . They were intended to ensure a free and open internet   give consumers equal access to web content and prevent broadband service providers from favoring their own content . The action marks a victory for big internet service providers such as AT & T Inc   Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc that opposed the rules and gives them sweeping powers to decide what web content consumers can get and at what price . It represents a setback for Google parent Alphabet Inc and Facebook Inc   which had urged [TGT] not to rescind the rules . Netflix said Tuesday it opposed the measure to “ roll back these core protections .” With three Republican and two Democratic commissioners   the move is all but certain to be approved . Trump   a Republican   expressed his opposition to net neutrality in 2014 before the regulations were even implemented   calling it a “ power grab ” by Obama . The White House did not immediately comment Tuesday .  [TGT]said  [TGT]  proposal would prevent state and local governments from creating their own net neutrality rules because internet service is “ inherently an interstate service .” The preemption is most likely to handcuff Democratic - governed states and localities that could have considered their own plans to protect consumers ’ equal access to internet content . “ The FCC will no longer be in the business of micromanaging business models and preemptively prohibiting services and applications and products that could be pro - competitive  ”  [TGT]said in an interview   adding that the Obama administration had sought to pick winners and losers and exercised “ heavy - handed ” regulation of the internet . “ We should simply set rules of the road that let companies of all kinds in every sector compete and let consumers decide who wins and loses  ”  [TGT]added . Tom Wheeler   who headed the FCC under Obama and advocated for the net neutrality rules   called the planned repeal “ a shameful sham and sellout . Even for this FCC and its leadership   this proposal raises hypocrisy to new heights .” AT & T   Comcast and Verizon have said that repealing the rules could lead to billions of dollars in additional broadband investment and eliminate the possibility that a future presidential administration could regulate internet pricing . Comcast said no matter what the FCC decided it would “ not block   throttle   or discriminate against lawful content .” ‘ HEAVY COSTS ’ Verizon said it believed the FCC “ will reinstate a framework that protects consumers ’ access to the open internet   without forcing them to bear the heavy costs from unnecessary regulation .” Ajit Pai   Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission   testifies before a Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington   U . S .  June 20   2017 . REUTERS / Aaron P . Bernstein The Internet Association   representing major technology firms including Alphabet and Facebook   said Pai ’ s proposal “ represents the end of net neutrality as we know it and defies the will of millions of Americans .” “ This proposal undoes nearly two decades of bipartisan agreement on baseline net neutrality principles that protect Americans ’ ability to access the entire internet  ” it said . Pai ’ s proposal would require internet service providers to disclose whether they allow blocking or slowing down of consumer web access or permit so - called internet fast lanes to facilitate a practice called paid prioritization of charging for certain content . Such disclosure will make it easier for another agency   the Federal Trade Commission   to act against internet service providers that fail to disclose such conduct to consumers   Pai said . The FTC could seek to bar practices that it deemed “ anticompetitive ” or violated antitrust rules . The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) logo is seen before the FCC Net Neutrality hearing in Washington February 26   2015 . REUTERS / Yuri Gripas The FCC received more than 22 million comments . New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman disclosed Tuesday he has been investigating for more than six months in a bid to learn who was behind the filing of false comments . A U . S . appeals court last year upheld the legality of the net neutrality regulations   which were challenged in a lawsuit led by telecommunications industry trade association US Telecom . The group praised Pai ’ s decision to remove “ antiquated   restrictive regulations ” to “ pave the way for broadband network investment   expansion and upgrades .” The FCC ’ s repeal is certain to draw a legal challenge from advocates of net neutrality . Nancy Pelosi   the top U . S . House of Representatives Democrat   said the FCC move would hurt consumers and chill competition   saying the agency “ has launched an all - out assault on the entrepreneurship   innovation and competition at the heart of the internet .” The planned repeal represents the latest example of a legacy achievement of Obama being erased since Trump took office in January . Trump has abandoned international trade deals   the landmark Paris climate accord and environmental protections   taken aim at the Iran nuclear accord and closer relations with Cuba   and sought repeal Obama ’ s signature healthcare law . Pai   who has moved quickly to undo numerous regulatory actions since becoming FCC chairman   is pushing a broad deregulatory agenda . Pai said he had not shared his plans on the rollback with the White House in advance or been directed to undo net neutrality by White House officials . The FCC under Obama regulated internet service providers like public utilities under a section of federal law that gave the agency sweeping oversight over the conduct of these companies . Language in the new proposal would give the FCC significantly less authority to oversee the web . The FCC granted initial approval to Pai ’ s plan in May   but had left open many key questions including whether to retain any legal requirements limiting internet providers conduct . His plan would eliminate the “ internet conduct standard  ” which gave the FCC far - reaching discretion to prohibit improper internet service provider practices .