Companies Watch Closely As FCC Moves To Redefine Net Neutrality
FCC drafts new rules that, if approved, will open the gate for ISPs to sell bandwidth to the highest bidders
Earlier this year, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruled against the FCC in a case brought forward byVerizon Communications Inc. (VZ). The judge agreed with the telecom company in ruling that the FCC was overreaching its authority, as accorded by Congress, in preventing ISPs from charging content providers for preferred treatment. The prior rules did not classify internet providers as utilities like telephone companies are classified, thus preventing stricter regulations around the industry.
Net Neutrality
At the heart of the issue is the long unwritten rule surrounding “net neutrality,” which implies the openness and unbiased treatment of all content available on the World Wide Web. The concept has allowed content providers, large and small, the same gateway to reach users at same speeds and equal access…