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dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts) Wed Dec 21, 2016, 01:38 PM Dec 2016

Remaining FCC Commissioners Promise to Gut Net Neutrality 'As Soon As Possible'

The FCC’s net neutrality rules are returning to the crosshairs of Republicans. Two of the remaining FCC commissioners, both members of the GOP, have promised internet service providers (ISPs) lobbying groups they will begin gutting net neutrality rules “as soon as possible.”

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FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, is set to leave office when Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Wheeler’s departure will significantly expose the net neutrality rules passed last year with only Democratic votes.

Pai and O’Reilly will have 2-1 Republican majority after Wheeler’s departure. Donald Trump will then nominate two new members to the FCC after taking the presidency, and his nominations will be confirmed by the Senate. The process typically takes several months to complete, which means Pai and O’Reilly will have months to oversee federal rule-making.

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The biggest change promised by the FCC commissioners, however, is the repeal of the Title II net neutrality order that prohibits ISPs from blocking or throttling web traffic. The Title II order is by far the most controversial part of the net neutrality rules and ensures that ISPs can’t charge people more money for visiting websites like Netflix or YouTube
If revoked, it would significantly change how people pay for and use the internet.

https://gizmodo.com/remaining-fcc-commissioners-promise-to-gut-net-neutrali-1790363416?rev=1482341198964&utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_twitter&utm_source=gizmodo_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow