Is the FCC neutering Net Neutrality?
The Federal Communication Commission is expected to introduce new rules today that will allow broadband providers to charge companies for faster internet service.
Net neutrality proponents see this as a blow to the principle that broadband providers can’t give preferential treatment to websites or Internet companies. Broadband providers welcome the proposed rules saying it’ll allow them to deliver better services to consumers, said John Butler, an analyst at Bloomberg Industries. He says, think of your Internet connection as a big highway.
“And to the extent that you get certain clients that are using too much of the highway if you will and really affecting the quality of service for others on the network, in their view that’s not fair game,” Butler said.
Providers say streaming video companies like Netflix, which use a lot of lanes on the road, should pay more. They say the proposed rules will simply allow them open faster Internet lanes and charge companies for them.
Todd O’Boyle with Common Cause, which advocates for Net Neutrality, says, the new rules allow for paid discrimination. He adds, it will also handicap smaller tech companies.
“By slowing down its rivals its harmful to innovation it’s harmful to end consumers,” O’Boyle said. He says that’s because consumers will end up paying for it in the end.
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