FCC Votes To Approve 'Net Neutrality' Rules Reclassifying Internet As Public Utility
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's a landmark decision in the history of the Internet: the Federal Communications Commission has voted to regulate broadband service as a public utility.
It's a dramatic shift that supporters say will protect the web, but is almost certain to be met by an avalanche of lawsuits.
Companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast must be prevented from creating 'fast lanes' or otherwise discriminating against websites you visit, says FCC chairman Tom Wheeler:
"The Internet is simply too important to allow broadband providers to be the ones making the rules."
The Democrat says there's nothing in the plan that would inflict the pain predicted by Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai:
"Consumers should expect their bills to go up, and they should expect that broadband will be slower going forward."
The Open Internet plan is designed to ensure all web traffic is treated equally. CNET's Maggie Reardon says there's no before-and-after to fear: the Internet now doesn't look any different than it did before the vote:
"If these rules work as they should, then everything should pretty much remain the same and the Internet should thrive. We've always had an open Internet, but now these rules in place will make sure that a broadband provider can't monkey with your traffic. And it means that anyone who wants to start a business will have the same equal access to the Internet as a big company like Google or Netflix."
