FCC to Propose Strong ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules
FCC to Propose Strong ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules
Rule Would Ban Practice Known as Paid Prioritization, Say Sources
By Gautham Nagesh
Updated Feb. 2, 2015 4:18 p.m. ET
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler intends to seek a significant expansion of his agency’s authority to regulate mobile and fixed broadband providers, a move that would fully embrace the principle known as “net neutrality.”
According to multiple people familiar with the agency’s plan, Mr. Wheeler intends to change the way both mobile and fixed broadband firms are regulated. Rather than being lightly regulated information services, they would become like telecommunications companies, which would subject them to greater regulation on everything from pricing to how they deploy their networks.
A key element of the rule would be a ban on broadband providers blocking, slowing down or speeding up specific websites in exchange for payment, a practice known as paid prioritization, these people say.
Mr. Wheeler’s expected proposal tracks closely with President’s Barack Obama’s Nov. 10 statement, in which he called for the “strongest possible rules” to protect net neutrality, the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. That represents a major shift from the chairman’s initial plan, which would have allowed some paid prioritization.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-to-propose-strong-net-neutrality-rules-1422911055
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