Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler officially announced his intention to reclassify the Internet as a public utility as the commission’s solution to the ongoing debate over net neutrality.
Wheeler described the commission’s forthcoming regulatory actions over broadband, wired and wireless Internet service providers in a Wired op-ed Wednesday. (RELATED: Obama Announces Support For Net Neutrality)
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.
Read the full story here. (RELATED: Ted Cruz: ‘Net Neutrality Is Obamacare For The Internet’)
