Trump Administration Is Planning Assault On Net Neutrality Rules
The plan would undo Obama-era net neutrality rules and allow companies like Comcast to discriminate against smaller, independent websites.
The Trump administration, along with the Federal Communications Commission, is planning a broad dismantling of Obama-era net neutrality rules.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai outlined his plans to undo the landmark 2015 net neutrality rules during a meeting last week with a group of industry lobbyists.
The principle of net neutrality is the idea that all internet traffic that all web traffic should be treated equally, meaning that internet providers like Comcast are not allowed to discriminate against certain websites or charge a fee for faster connection speeds.
The existing net neutrality rules were solidified by the FCC in 2015 under the Obama administration.
The 2015 decision by the FCC also reclassified broadband providers as telecommunication services which opened them up to more FCC oversight.
Ajit Pai was appointed as the new Chair of the FCC by Donald Trump. Pai voted against the net neutrality rules in 2015 saying the laws were “trying to solve a problem that didn’t exist.”
Pai’s planned net neutrality rollback would undo the 2015 rules which prohibit internet companies like Comcast and AT&T from favoring specific web traffic. And instead, the new plan would replace the rules with pledges from internet providers not to engage in traffic throttling or blocking. Because what makes consumers feel confident is a pledge from Comcast.
The principals of net neutrality are essential to a fair and open internet. Internet providers like AT&T should not be allowed to play favorites and prioritize their own services over their competitors like Netflix or YouTube.
The plan could be put up for a vote in May or June.
