The Federal Communications Commission announced that USA net neutrality rules will expire on June 11, meaning that new regulations on how consumers can access the internet will take effect will change. The FCC back in December 2017 annulled the open-internet rules set in 2015.
The open-internet rules set in 2015 bars service providers from blocking or slowing down access to content or charging consumers more for certain content. However, the new rules set by FCC requires the internet service providers whether it will block or ask to pay extra to access the content. However, Comcast Corp, Verizon Communications Inc, and AT&T Inc promised not to discriminate against legal content after the net neutrality rules expire.
Furthermore, a group of 22 states led by New York and others have sued with an aim to block the new rules from taking effect and the Senate voting may take as early as next week to reject the December repeal. These rules make the internet service providers put their profits before the consumers they serve and some internet service providers have already clarified that might eventually offer paid fast lanes for some future internet traffic.
Ajit Pai said that internet providers were given 30 days to comply with the new transparency rules so that everyone can see the truth for themselves. The voting will take place as early as next week. Back in December, the FCC voted 3-2 to reverse the Obama-era rules barring service providers from blocking, slowing access to or charging more for certain online content.
Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said:
The rules would not harm consumers and would return the internet to the pre-2015 era. 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.
Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC Commissioner said:
Today, the FCC gave notice that net neutrality protections will be taken off the books on June 11. This is profoundly disappointing. The agency failed to listen to the American public and gave short shrift to their deeply held belief that internet openness should remain the law of the land. The agency turned a blind eye to serious problems in its process from Russian intervention to fake comments to stolen identities in its files. The FCC is on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of the law, and the wrong side of the American people. It deserves to have its handiwork revisited, reexamined, and ultimately reversed. I raised my voice to fight for internet freedom. I’ll keep raising a ruckus to support net neutrality and I hope others will too.