Net neutrality rules poised to win FCC approval (WaPo)

[jefferson_dem]

Net neutrality rules poised to win FCC approval
By Cecilia Kang
Updated 5:09 p.m.

The Federal Communications Commission is poised on Tuesday to pass net neutrality regulations, rules that would for the first time prevent Internet service providers from blocking or giving preferential treatment to Web sites on their networks.

The FCC's proposal will receive support from a majority of the five-member commission, after intense lobbying. Telecom and cable companies have said that the new rules could deter them from expanding broadband Internet connections and bolstering speeds. On the other side, Internet giants such as Google and Skype, along with public interest groups, have for years pushed for such regulation, saying the increased importance of the Internet calls for clear rules to ensure that consumers get equal access to all legal Web sites and applications.

The rules would prevent Internet service providers from blocking Web sites and applications on Internet lines feeding into U.S. homes. Those carriers -- such as Comcast and AT&T -- could not deliberately slow down one Web site over another. The rules frown on the practice of charging Web sites for better or faster delivery, but observers say that practice would not be strictly prohibited.

Wireless networks would not be covered as broadly by the rules. An FCC official said carriers such as Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel would be prohibited from blocking competing voice and videoconferencing applications. Any other practices would have to be disclosed by the carriers.

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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/12/fcc_copps_to_vote_in_favor_of.html?hpid=topnews

[Honeycombe8]

1. This is good news! nt

[jefferson_dem]

2. More for context - FCC Net Neutrality Rules Slammed from All Sides

FCC Net Neutrality Rules Slammed from All Sides
By Ryan Singel December 20, 2010 | 7:40 pm | Categories: Broadband

The federal government’s new internet fairness rules — aimed at preventing the nation’s cable and DSL internet service providers from meddling with the open, free-wheeling nature of the internet — were met with loud criticism Monday night from all sides of the political spectrum.

Many Republicans, including FCC commissioner Robert McDowell, blasted the new rules as an interventionist over-reach by an activist federal regulator intent on asserting control over the internet. Meanwhile, Democrats, including Sen. Al Franken from Minnesota, along with public interest and free speech groups, slammed the rules as woefully inadquate to protect the public from the privations of an industry keen on turning the internet into a cyber-version of cable TV, with tiers and premium packages affordable by the wealthy.

There was one group, however, that seemed pleased by the new rules: the nation’s cable and telecommunications companies, which have been making the rounds in recent weeks signaling their support for Chairman Julius Genachowski’s compromise deal.

And of course, the new rules will allow President Obama to say that he fulfilled a key campaign pledge — net neutrality — when the plan’s critics say he has done nothing of the sort, and in fact only consigned the issue to more lawsuits and uncertainty. The long-awaited move comes after five years of running battles between the nation’s telecoms, public interest groups and Silicon Valley firms over how best to keep the internet open to innovation.

Come Tuesday afternoon, following what will likely be a 3-2 party line vote at the FCC, the new rules of the road will resemble the old rules in many respects — just with less legal authority, and a massive new loophole. For the first time, federal policy would allow for so-called reasonable “paid prioritization,” which critics argue is the first step toward cleaving out high-speed, premium fast-lanes from the “public internet.” This could jeopardize internet innovation by disincentivising entrepreneurial activity on the free, or regular, internet.

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http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/12/fcc-rule/

[Kdillard]

3. I am glad Al Franken is speaking up about this because I don't like what I am reading.

[Imagevision]

4. "Best Buy" is going to love this...

[Armstead]

5. A key phrase in this description that makes it toothless'....

"The rules frown on the practice of charging Web sites for better or faster delivery, but observers say that practice would not be strictly prohibited."

In other words "Please be nice Mr. Monopoly service."

[ProudDad]

6. War is Peace, Lies are Truth...

Net Neutrality is corporate priority...

If those rules pass then "Net neutrality" means that some deep pocket corporations will have faster websites than the rest of us...

[SugarShack]

7. It's no longer looking good...check out this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x48509