Well, there goes net neutrality. Thanks, FCC

[octoberlib]

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission will propose new rules that allow Internet service providers to offer a faster lane through which to send video and other content to consumers, as long as a content company is willing to pay for it, according to people briefed on the proposals.

The proposed rules are a complete turnaround for the F.C.C. on the subject of so-called net neutrality, the principle that Internet users should have equal ability to see any content they choose, and that no content providers should be discriminated against in providing their offerings to consumers.

The F.C.C.'s previous rules governing net neutrality were thrown out by a federal appeals court this year. The court said those rules had essentially treated Internet service providers as public utilities, which violated a previous F.C.C. ruling that Internet links were not to be governed by the same strict regulation as telephone or electric service.

The new rules, according to the people briefed on them, will allow a company like Comcast or Verizon to negotiate separately with each content company – like Netflix, Amazon, Disney or Google – and charge different companies different amounts for priority service.That, of course, could increase costs for content companies, which would then have an incentive to pass on those costs to consumers as part of their subscription prices.


http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/technology/fcc-new-net-neutrality-rules.html

[msanthrope]

1. Verizon v. Federal Communications Commission, 11-1356, U.S. Crt of Appeals for the Dist. of Colombia

killed net neutrality.

Obviously, given that decision, there must be new rules in line with the court. I don't know what else can be done, short of consumers responding to companies like Verizon.

[octoberlib]

2. It's bad news for consumers. Was it a Republican judge? nt

[msanthrope]

4. One Reagan and two Clinton appointees. nt

[truedelphi]

6. Sad to say, the head count you reveal is not that surprising.

[h2][font color=red] IT is ALL ONE BIG MONEY PARTY!! [/h2][/font color=red]

And most of us re not invited!

[1000words]

3. I can stream all of those broadcasts for nothing at all

There's always a way, and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

[truedelphi]

7. Right now, you can stream, but that is what will change

Your streaming and my streaming and everyone's streaming will be metered, and unless you make a ton of money,you will have to cut back on how many vids you watch.

[octoberlib]

5. More information.

The commission will begin to internally circulate the rules tomorrow ahead of a vote on May 15th, after which the rules would be opened up for public comment if they pass. The FCC says that the proposed rules are meant to fulfill the goals of the 2010 Open Internet order — the neutrality-enforcing rules that were struck down in court earlier this year. It says that the proposed new rules are also consistent with the analysis of the court that initially struck its neutrality regulations down.

Though internet service providers likely aren't eager for regulation to return, neutrality advocates such as Netflix have been calling on the FCC to take action quickly, and with even broader action than before. Netflix would also like to see the rules govern the actual infrastructure for moving data, preventing service providers from charging companies fees for delivering it to their customers, but the FCC has said that it won't be doing this for now, with its rules only covering what's known as the "last mile" between providers and their customers.

Instead, the new regulations are expected to broadly resembled the earlier Open Internet rules, with one key difference that this time they'll rely on legal grounds that are believed to grant the FCC the proper authority to enforce them — though it'll still be working off of something closer to a technicality than explicit permission. The changes mentioned in the Journal would of course be major differences too, though we may not see a draft of the rules until next month. The FCC is already accepting public comments based on the framework released in February, which it should be factoring in to the upcoming draft.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/23/5644246/fcc-new-net-neutrality-rules-draft-coming-in-may