It has been reported that regulators in the United States have approved new rules relating to net neutrality amongst broadband providers.
Regulators in the United States have approved controversial rules relating to net neutrality, which would stop broadband providers from interfering with traffic online, and would ensure that all web traffic is treated equally. The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 on the new rules, and the decision has been welcomed by some officials including President Barack Obama.
According to officials this is “the first time the commission has adopted enforceable rules” with regards to governance of the internet. The rules have received a lot of criticism from many parties but have also been encouraged and welcomed by others. The three regulators that passed the rulings were all democrats, and the two that opposed the regulations were Republican.
The FCC said that the vote went by the “basic rules of the road to preserve the open internet as a platform for innovation, investment, competition and free expression”. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski added: “We’re adopting a framework that will increase certainty for businesses, investors and entrepreneurs. We’re taking an approach that will help foster a cycle of massive investment, innovation and consumer demand both at the edge and in the core of our broadband networks.”
Some supporters believe that more should have been done with regards to net neutrality, however. Following the ruling Aparna Sridhar of advocacy group the Free Press said: “I think today is a tremendously important day in the fight to preserve a free and open internet. Chairman Genachowski has completely squandered a golden opportunity to make this vote meaningful. Until now we have had a certain amount of regulatory uncertainty, and the carriers have had an incentive to stay on their best behaviour. ”
Do you think that more should have been done by the FCC? Comment and let us know
Source – BBC