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FCC chairman confirms plans for Title II internet regulation
2015-02-04 17:43:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) FCC chairman Tom Wheeler has confirmed plans to implement strict net neutrality rules, in line with the earlier call from President Barack Obama. In an article in Wired magazine, Wheeler said he will send the proposal to his fellow commissioners this week. It will include plans to extend Title II authority under the Telecommunications Act to internet access services. This would see internet service designated a utility, the same as fixed telephony services, allowing the FCC to impose stricter regulations. Wheeler said the new rules will also ban paid prioritization, where a service provider can pay the network operator for preferred access to end-users, as well as prohibit blocking and throttling of lawful content and services. These rules will also apply to internet services over mobile networks. The FCC chairman said the Title II regulations will be modernised "for the 21st century", in order to ensure the new regulation does not dissuade invesment in networks. "For example, there will be no rate regulation, no tariffs, no last-mile unbundling," he said. In addition, Wheeler plans a "general conduct rule that can be used to stop new and novel threats to the internet". This should allow the FCC to adapt the regulation in future depending on changes in technology and the market.
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Category:Telecommunications