Topic: FCC passed vote for Title II (Utility) on all Broadband (Land and Mobile)!!!

[BlackNMild2k1]

http://www.wired.com/2015/02/fcc-chairman-wheeler-net-neutrality/

Originally, I believed that the FCC could assure internet openness through a determination of “commercial reasonableness” under Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. While a recent court decision seemed to draw a roadmap for using this approach, I became concerned that this relatively new concept might, down the road, be interpreted to mean what is reasonable for commercial interests, not consumers.

That is why I am proposing that the FCC use its Title II authority to implement and enforce open internet protections.

Using this authority, I am submitting to my colleagues the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC. These enforceable, bright-line rules will ban paid prioritization, and the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services. I propose to fully apply—for the first time ever—those bright-line rules to mobile broadband. My proposal assures the rights of internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone’s permission.

All of this can be accomplished while encouraging investment in broadband networks. To preserve incentives for broadband operators to invest in their networks, my proposal will modernize Title II, tailoring it for the 21st century, in order to provide returns necessary to construct competitive networks. For example, there will be no rate regulation, no tariffs, no last-mile unbundling. Over the last 21 years, the wireless industry has invested almost $300 billion under similar rules, proving that modernized Title II regulation can encourage investment and competition.

Congress wisely gave the FCC the power to update its rules to keep pace with innovation. Under that authority my proposal includes a general conduct rule that can be used to stop new and novel threats to the internet. This means the action we take will be strong enough and flexible enough not only to deal with the realities of today, but also to establish ground rules for the as yet unimagined.

The internet must be fast, fair and open. That is the message I’ve heard from consumers and innovators across this nation. That is the principle that has enabled the internet to become an unprecedented platform for innovation and human expression. And that is the lesson I learned heading a tech startup at the dawn of the internet age. The proposal I present to the commission will ensure the internet remains open, now and in the future, for all Americans

Of course the major telecoms are putting together their lawsuits, but this is still good news.Hopefully this also opens up the market for Google (and the companies they use) to push their gigabit internet nationwide.

edit: i hate editing post on this damn forum. I spend more time correcting forum added code than actually posting the damn article.

[Nile Boogie Returns]

So I can stop trying to fill up 1.5 petabyte hard drive space with random media* I could find for fear of the internet eating itself alive?




* i have a folder with 3GB of running dogs...I'm not proud of it, I'm just saying.

[NWR_insanolord]

It's my understanding that this is very unlikely to be overturned in court, because the FCC is using power it explicitly has. If it's going to be taken down it'll be by congress revoking that authority.

[BlackNMild2k1]

It's my understanding that this is very unlikely to be overturned in court, because the FCC is using power it explicitly has. If it's going to be taken down it'll be by congress revoking that authority.

and Obama will just Veto congress right? Obama has to agree to Congress over ruling the FCC correct? Cause we all know the FCC just did Obama's bidding here (#thanksobama), so Congress would have a hard time undoing what was done here.... at least for the next few years.

[NWR_insanolord]

Yeah, I doubt congress has the votes to override a veto, but Obama's only president for two more years, and there's no way the telecoms give up by then.

[Stogi]

Two years maybe enough for the public to feel the changes, making it much harder for Congress to support ATT and the like.

[Shaymin]

Also, those laws the ISPs bought to ban municipal internet? See ya.

[NWR_insanolord]

There's also the benefit we saw with the fight against SOPA, where there will be significant lobbying from some tech companies in favor of this change. I think it's got a good chance of sticking, but we've got a while before we really know.

[broodwars]

So...can someone explain what this new determination means in terms of mobile & home networks, because I don't quite understand the impact of this?

[Shaymin]

at&t won't be able to throttle Skype to push their VOIP services would be the easiest way to explain it.

[BranDonk Kong]

Bingo. And the internet is treated like a public utility such as water and electricity. Power to the people, well a little bit anyway.

[nickmitch]

Bingo. And the internet is treated like a public utility such as water and electricity. Power* to the people, well a little bit anyway.

*Power sold separately.  Standard rates apply.

[ShyGuy]

Let's talk about Politics!

[BlackNMild2k1]

Looks like this is supposed to happen today as the Republican opposers have apparently admitted defeat

F.C.C. Net Neutrality Rules Clear Hurdle as Republicans Concede to Obama
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/25/technology/path-clears-for-net-neutrality-ahead-of-fcc-vote

WASHINGTON — Senior Republicans conceded on Tuesday that the grueling fight with President Obama over the regulation of Internet service appears over, with the president and an army of Internet activists victorious.

The Federal Communications Commission is expected on Thursday to approve regulating Internet service like a public utility, prohibiting companies from paying for faster lanes on the Internet. While the two Democratic commissioners are negotiating over technical details, they are widely expected to side with the Democratic chairman, Tom Wheeler, against the two Republican commissioners.

And Republicans on Capitol Hill, who once criticized the plan as “Obamacare for the Internet,” now say they are unlikely to pass a legislative response that would undo perhaps the biggest policy shift since the Internet became a reality.

and not to talk politics but.... (and this is totally related to the topic) right after that the above was know, Hilary publicly endorsed the idea and said that it needed to be even stricter...
http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/24/8104749/hillary-clinton-fcc-net-neutrality-plan-support. ride those coat tails.

anyway. I await the confirmation that Title II classification is happening.

The F.C.C. plan would let the agency regulate Internet access as if it is a public good. It would follow the concept known as net neutrality or an open Internet, banning so-called paid prioritization — or fast lanes — for willing Internet content providers.

In addition, it would ban the intentional slowing of the Internet for companies that refuse to pay broadband providers. The plan would also give the F.C.C. the power to step in if unforeseen impediments are thrown up by the handful of giant companies that run many of the country’s broadband and wireless networks.

[BranDonk Kong]

(Y)


Since we don't have applaud/smite anymore, you get the code for thumbs up on Facebook (or a checkmark in MS Lync for my fellow corporate world friends).

[Shaymin]

That's a cleavage.

[BlackNMild2k1]

“This is no more a plan to regulate the Internet than the First Amendment is a plan to regulate free speech." - Tom Wheeler (FCC Commissioner)

The FCC just approved the strongest net neutrality rules yet
http://www.vox.com/2015/2/26/8115361/fcc-net-neutrality-approved

- The Federal Communications Commission has approved its strongest network neutrality rules yet.
- Three Democrats, including chairman Tom Wheeler, voted for the rules. The two Republicans dissented.
- The new rules reclassify internet access so it will be regulated like a public utility.
- The rules apply to both home broadband connections and the wireless networks that power smartphones.

First it's ObamaCare... now we got ObamaNet.
#staywinning

congratulations internet.

now we await the lawsuits.
which I saw mentioned somewhere that accepting all that gov'ment money all those years ago to expand the broadband coverage (a title II-like perk), that was never actually used to expand the broadband coverage (oooops), might actually hurt their case.
I suspect that if that is true, and Obama being a Law scholar prior to politician, he already knew that and that is already lined up as part of the defense.


edit: the entire meeting for those that want to watch
http://www.c-span.org/video/?324473-1/fcc-meeting-open-internet-rules


Jump to 2:19:50 to get past the all the lies and whining and get to the good stuff; Wheeler and the vote itself.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Verizon is already bitter
http://publicpolicy.verizon.com/assets/docs/VZ_NR_--_2-26-15_VZ_Statement_on_Open_Internet_Order_FINAL_1.pdf

they dusted off the typewriter and dated the document for 1934...

LOL

[Nile Boogie Returns]

Does this allow for usage charges like other utility companies? It cost the GAS COMPANY more to get me the gas than it does in actual usage. Can the great beast that is Comcast start to charge for Data Transmission based on hops and nodes?


 I was aware of some fallback contingency to get more money from the consumer that the Telcoms had in their back pocket.

[Stogi]

When does this take effect?

[BlackNMild2k1]

Hopefully soon, but I'm sure lawsuits will prevent it from happening immediately.

Here is the FCC's PR release if you care to read it.
http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-strong-sustainable-rules-protect-open-internet

[BranDonk Kong]

Verizon can go **** themselves.

[nickmitch]

Mark Cuban was butthurt about it on Twitter today.

He argues that Net Neutrality will ruin television.


I'll really mourn the loss of QVC.

[BranDonk Kong]

QVC is the phone book of TV channels.

[nickmitch]

(Y)