President Obama has thrown his weight behind the campaign for net neutrality, urging the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider its classification of the internet.
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New regulations would allow internet providers to allow better speeds and access to the sites and companies that pay for it, pushing smaller businesses or individual websites to the wayside.
Several politicians have spoken up in defense of net neutrality, but Obama's statement is the biggest push yet, even though the decision is ultimately up to the FCC. The full statement is lengthy, but below are some of its most important segments.
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The use of Title II, which Obama calls for, would mean internet is treated as a utility, like many of the others Americans enjoy. Providers would only be responsible for shuttling connections, not deciding where it goes or how fast. Using a paid speed model would only serve to benefit the providers, which can collect from prioritized paying entities while giving everyone else inferior service.
"So the time has come for the FCC to recognize that broadband service is of the same importance and must carry the same obligations as so many of the other vital services do. To do that, I believe the FCC should reclassify consumer broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act--while at the same time forbearing from rate regulation and other provisions less relevant to broadband services. This is a basic acknowledgment of the services ISPs provide to American homes and businesses, and the straightforward obligations necessary to ensure the network works for everyone - not just one or two companies.
The rules I am asking for are simple, common-sense steps that reflect the Internet you and I use every day, and that some ISPs already observe. These bright-line rules include:
- No blocking. If a consumer requests access to a website or service, and the content is legal, your ISP should not be permitted to block it. That way, every player - not just those commercially affiliated with an ISP - gets a fair shot at your business.
- No throttling. Nor should ISPs be able to intentionally slow down some content or speed up others - through a process often called "throttling" - based on the type of service or your ISP's preferences.
- Increased transparency. The connection between consumers and ISPs - the so-called "last mile" - is not the only place some sites might get special treatment. So, I am also asking the FCC to make full use of the transparency authorities the court recently upheld, and if necessary to apply net neutrality rules to points of interconnection between the ISP and the rest of the Internet.
- No paid prioritization. Simply put: No service should be stuck in a "slow lane" because it does not pay a fee. That kind of gatekeeping would undermine the level playing field essential to the Internet's growth. So, as I have before, I am asking for an explicit ban on paid prioritization and any other restriction that has a similar effect."
