The
proposed rule Federal Communications Commission chair Tom Wheeler will be bringing to the committee next month would essentially end the Net neutrality that has allowed the Internet revolution. It would allow Internet service providers to charge a premium to content providers to get the "fast lane" delivery. It's being widely panned by policymakers,
consumer groups, and content providers.
"It could create a tiered Internet where consumers either pay more for content and speed, or get left behind with fewer choices," warned Delara Derakhshani, policy counsel for Consumers Union. […]
"The proposed approach is the fastest lane to punish consumers and Internet innovators," video streaming company Netflix said Thursday. The plan would be particularly bad for smaller businesses and their customers, said Patrick Clinger, founder and chief executive of ProBoards, an online forum service.
Lawmakers who have been pushing for strengthened Net neutrality rules are
staking out their opposition.
“Like many Internet users, I fear that the latest round of proposed net neutrality rules from the FCC will not do enough to curtail discrimination of Internet traffic, but rather leave the door open to discrimination under more ambiguous terms,” said [Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.)], the top Democrat on the House’s leading telecom committee.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), another top net neutrality supporter, stressed the "Internet's rules of the road must not open up fast lanes to those who can pay, leaving others stuck in traffic." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), meanwhile, called it a "terribly misguided proposal," and even wagered its implementation would mean "the Internet as we have come to know it would cease to exist and the average American would be the big loser."
And [Sen. Al] Franken described the plan as "deeply disappointing and very troubling." The senator added, "Chairman Wheeler's proposal would fundamentally change the open nature of the Internet, and I strongly urge him to reconsider this misguided approach."
The full committee needs to get the message now that this proposal is unacceptable, before their meeting on May 15 when they'll begin consideration of it. This proposal needs to be nipped in the bud, and the FCC need to get to work on a Net neutrality rule that protects the Internet.
Help us stop the FCC from crushing Net neutrality. Please sign our petition.