Deutsche Welle, 16 May 2014
The US
Federal Communications Commission has formally proposed new Internet
regulations. Net neutrality activists are concerned that the proposals could
create "fast lanes" that discriminate against certain users.
In a 3-2
vote, the FCC formally proposed rules on Thursday that would allow companies to
pay for priority access to the Internet.
At the same
time, the commission said that it would also consider regulating the Internet
as a public utility, which would provide equal access to all users.
The
proposals play to both sides of the public debate over net neutrality - in
which all data is treated equally on the internet - leaving open whether or not
the FCC will ultimately create Internet fast lanes for customers who pay a fee.
Companies
such as Netflix, Google, Facebook, and Amazon have all come out against the
creation of fast lanes. Under a fast-lane system, companies would pay Internet
service providers to accelerate the delivery of their content to users. On the
other hand, the content of those who can't pay the fee would reach users
slower.
Originally,
the FCC adopted rules that protected net neutrality. But a federal appeals
court struck those rules down in January, forcing the FCC to reconsider the
issue of fast lanes.
A four
month public comment period has now opened, in which Americans can submit their
views on the FCC's proposals. After the comment period has concluded, the
commission will revise its proposal and adopt a final set of rules.
Debate over
fast lanes
After the
vote, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expressed concern about the
move toward fast lanes, calling on the FCC to adopt rules that would govern the
Internet as a public utility.
"This
proposed rule leaves the individual at the mercy of an increasingly
concentrated broadband market, in which the big players will be able to act as
gatekeepers for online speech, deciding what gets seen and when," said
Gabe Rottman, the ACLU's legislative consul, in a press release.
But FCC
chairman Tom Wheeler told reporters that nothing in the proposals would lead to
discrimination in Internet access.
"There
is nothing in this rule, in this proposal, that authorizes fast lanes,"
Wheeler said. "The speed and quality of connection of the consumer
purchases must be unaffected."
slk/jr (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
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