FCC: Net Neutrality to end on June 11th

The FCC revealed today that net neutrality will end on June 11th. As we told you yesterday, there is a longshot attempt in Congress to save the regulation, which forces all carriers to treat online content the same. The Senate has fast-tracked a resolution to overturn the falsely named "Restoring Internet Freedom Order" that will be voted on next week. While there is a chance that the Senate could pass it, the resolution has no shot to get out of the House. In addition to the resolution, 22 states have sued to block the repeal.

Originally passed by the Obama-era FCC in 2015 by a 3-2 vote along party lines, net neutrality prevented carriers from charging content providers to access a faster network for dissemination of their streams. It also stopped carriers from charging to carry content that it didn't like or agree with. For example, with net neutrality out of the way, a wireless company could tell a streaming content provider that for a certain amount of money, it will carry its content over a special part of its network that provides for higher quality images and sound. Eventually, the streamer could raise monthly subscription rates as a way for it to make up for those charges. Having said that, Verizon, AT&T and Comcast have all promised not to discriminate against any legal content following the demise of net neutrality.


Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said today that the repeal of net neutrality will not hurt consumers. "The effect of this will be better, faster, cheaper internet access and the free and open internet that we have had for many, many years," Pai stated.

source: Reuters, CNN