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FCC Plans on Treating ISPs like Utility Services (2015-03-02)
After months of speculation, it seems as though the high and mighty at the FCC have come to a conclusive decision regarding the issue of net neutrality. According to recent technology news, Tom Wheeler, the FCC Chairman laid out his plans for regulating the internet as a utility.
The Federal Communications Commission had to start from scratch after the previous rules had been struck down by the Federal Court last year. According to analysts, net neutrality is a concept which states that all internet providers should be neutral when it comes to providing their customers with internet services, rather than acting as gatekeepers and deciding which customers get what speeds.
While the issue has been cleared up, the only question remains of how these new laws are going to be implemented. And what kind of backlash this proposal is going to get from the companies in Silicon Valley. That being said, the move is supported by the Obama government who had also come under fire for suggesting to treat ISPs like telecommunications companies, and that it would be subjecting the ISPs to a tighter oversight on how they manage traffic on networks.
On the other hand, many cable companies have lobbied behind the fact that more government regulations would only stifle the growth and innovation of internet providers in the US.
Having an open internet is important because it allows users to be able to access content which they choose, without having to deal with any interference from their local broadband network provider, provided the content is legal. The concept of net neutrality also helps foster healthy competition by making sure that new products and services that are launched by entrepreneurs aren’t locked out or blocked by ISPs. In other words, having an open internet allows the freedom of expression to blossom without the fear of an ISP acting as a gatekeeper and keeping their own interests and profits above the user’s interest. By having a set of rules that are predictable and similar for all internet users means that innovators have a change to push their products and services against big name competitors.
According to recent technology news, the new net neutrality rules will also be good for investments as well. The US wireless industry has invested around $400 billion under the same rules which only proves that the new Title II regulations will support and promote investment and competition in that sector. According to insiders, fever provisions will apply to ISPs as compared to the wireless carriers under the Title II act. Another example which can be given of the Title II Act is that, during the period of 1993 to 2009, the wireless carriers have invested nearly $270 billion, which has increased to 2,000%.
In the end, the decision of giving the FCC the power to update their own rules was a wise idea by the government. But, really matters here is the consumers, which means that the internet has to be fair, fast and open to all.
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