Net Neutrailty is back

[Jimmy Higgins]

FCC Approves new rules as it labels Internet as utility.

Federal regulators moved forward on Thursday with a net neutrality plan to protect openness on the Internet by treating the online world more like heavily regulated telecommunications markets.

New rules from the Federal Communications Commission adopted on a 3-2 vote will prohibit Internet service providers like Comcast (CMCSA) and Verizon Communications (VZ) from discriminating against any web site or online service. That means sites like Netflix (NFLX) or Google’s (GOOGL) YouTube won’t have to pay extra fees or face sluggish connections with their users. And new sites and services will be able to reach everyone on the Internet on the same terms as the big players.

This is good stuff.

The FCC would not regulate the price of Internet services under the new rules and would not impose any new taxes or government-mandated fees. Nonetheless, opponents said they feared price regulations and new taxes would come eventually, further discouraging investment.

Yeah, the opponents to decent regulation will say anything.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

In other news Comcast declares bankruptcy ceases to make a gazillion dollars. The moon is really made of cheese and Babe the Blue Ox has returned to Earth from his intergalactic journey.

 

[ksen]

Guys, as soon as these regulations passed I logged on to the internet and my kitten died.

 

[ksen]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-vote-internet-utility.html

At the Thursday meeting, the F.C.C. also approved an order to pre-empt state laws that limit the build-out of municipal broadband Internet services. The order focuses on laws in two states, North Carolina and Tennessee, but it would create a policy framework for other states. About 21 states, by the F.C.C.’s count, have laws that restrict the activities of community broadband services.

The state laws unfairly restrict competition to cable and telecommunications broadband providers from municipal initiatives, the F.C.C. said.

Probably one of the best parts of the new rules.

This order, too, will surely be challenged in court.

Of course.

 

[ksen]

FCC news release

I'm still looking for the actual rules. Somebody please post a link if you find them.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

http://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/1934new.pdf

 

[dismal]

FCC news release

I'm still looking for the actual rules. Somebody please post a link if you find them.

It's going to be like when Dodd-Frank fixed Wall Street but for the internets.

 

[Rhea]

Does this mean I have a better chance of getting broadband to my home or not?
(I kinda need a "rural electrification" type push in order to acquire broadband. Does this help me?)

 

[ksen]

Does this mean I have a better chance of getting broadband to my home or not?

you have a better chance

 

[ksen]

Fox News doesn't disappoint.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ernet-regulation-plan-obama-accused-meddling/

But the rules, more broadly, would put the Internet in the same regulatory camp as the telephone by classifying it like a public utility, meaning providers like Comcast or Verizon would have to act in the "public interest" when providing a mobile connection to your home or phone.

Oh noes!!1!1!!! the "public interest"!

public interest = socialinaziism

 

[Rhea]

Does this mean I have a better chance of getting broadband to my home or not?

you have a better chance

You have made my day. I would SOOOOO love to be able to get online radio. And watching a video from time to time would be kinda cool. Sharing photos... and, lastly, the possibility of working from home. Wow. That would rock.

 

[ksen]

it's a sad day in FReeperville

eta: so this is what it feels like when something goes the public's way . . . I like it!

 

[Axulus]

Does this net neutrality cover things like the free Kindle internet access, which only provides access to Kindle services? Must the cellular provider provide access to the full internet for Kindle users?

 

[ksen]

Does this net neutrality cover things like the free Kindle internet access, which only provides access to Kindle services? Must the cellular provider provide access to the full internet for Kindle users?

From the news release linked above:

Some data services do not go over the public Internet, and therefore are not “broadband Internet access” services (VoIP from a cable system is an example, as is a dedicated heart-monitoring service). The Order ensures that these services do not undermine the effectiveness of the Open Internet rules. Moreover, all broadband providers’ transparency disclosures will continue to cover any offering of such non-Internet access data services—ensuring that the public and the Commission can keep a close eye on any tactics that could undermine the Open Internet rules.

Pretty sure the Kindle isn't a "broadband internet access" service.

But keep bringing up the important questions. I'm sure colorado will be along any minute with some more.

 

[Nexus]

I fear the FCC eventually regulating it as poorly as they do radio and tv with the fines etc for silly things they find offensive ie Janet Jackson's breast. Its too bad the big ISPs insatiable greed led to this.

 

[ksen]

I may be wrong but I think radio and television are not regulated under Title II.

 

[dismal]

you have a better chance

You have made my day. I would SOOOOO love to be able to get online radio. And watching a video from time to time would be kinda cool. Sharing photos... and, lastly, the possibility of working from home. Wow. That would rock.

Before you get too excited remember outside of the minds in ksenville and Caracas people generally don't believe firms respond to more government uncertainty and the prospect of reduced profits with a higher desire to invest.

 

[ksen]

You have made my day. I would SOOOOO love to be able to get online radio. And watching a video from time to time would be kinda cool. Sharing photos... and, lastly, the possibility of working from home. Wow. That would rock.

Before you get too excited remember outside of the minds in ksenville and Caracas people generally don't believe firms respond to more government uncertainty and the prospect of reduced profits with a higher desire to invest.

Good advice, also before you get dragged down into dismaldom and Mogadishu remember that these regulations will make it easier for your municipality, google, or even your electric company to build out a fiber network to your location so you're not forced to wait for Comcast, or whomever, to decide it's worth the expense to them to provide your area with a faster connection to the internet.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Meanwhile every Squirrel down in Squirrelville and Paris...

 

[Bomb#20]

FCC Approves new rules as it labels Internet as utility.

Federal regulators moved forward on Thursday with a net neutrality plan to protect openness on the Internet by treating the online world more like heavily regulated telecommunications markets.

New rules from the Federal Communications Commission adopted on a 3-2 vote will prohibit Internet service providers like Comcast (CMCSA) and Verizon Communications (VZ) from discriminating against any web site or online service. That means sites like Netflix (NFLX) or Google’s (GOOGL) YouTube won’t have to pay extra fees or face sluggish connections with their users. And new sites and services will be able to reach everyone on the Internet on the same terms as the big players.

This is good stuff.

So does this make it more or less likely that the html packet from TFT I'm still waiting for on my road's 18,000 foot DSL line is going to have to wait literally in line behind ten thousand video packets from YouTube my neighbor wants delivered to him with no perceptible delay?