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FCC proposes new open internet rules
2014-05-15 21:22:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed new 'net neutrality' rules. The FCC's proposal follows a ruling by a US court of appeals in January against the regulator's previous Open Internet rules. The FCC has decided to revise the rules in line with the judgement, building on its authority to promote broadband access in the US. Its public consultation also considers invoking the so-called Title II rules of the Communications Act, which would reclassify internet service as a utility to allow greater regulation of ISPs. The FCC proposes to retain the definitions and scope of its Open Internet rules of 2010, which governed all broadband internet access service providers. This would include enhancing the transparency rule, to provide customers better information about traffic management practices of ISPs, and maintaining the "no-blocking" rule, to ensure no end-user is prevented access to legal content online. The proposal also looks at whether 'paid prioritisation' should be allowed, so content providers could pay an ISP to provide greater bandwidth for their end-users. In particular, the FCC focused on how the rules would be applied. The consultation asks how to devise a multi-factor "screen" to analyse whether any ISP conduct hurts consumers, competition, free expression and civic engagement and other criteria under a legal standard termed "commercial reasonableness". The FCC will consult on the proposals until early September.
Tags: internet
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Category:Telecommunications