The Impact of Net Neutrality on Public Access to the Internet: What Does FCC Sensitivities Say about the Reclassification of Broadband
The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 on Thursday to reclassify broadband as a public utility, such as water and electricity — to regulate access to the internet. The move to expand government oversight of internet service providers comes after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the magnitude of the digital divide, forcing consumers to rely on high-speed internet for school and work, as well as social and health support.
“Broadband is now an essential service,” FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday in prepared remarks. “Essential services—the ones we count on in every aspect of modern life—have some basic oversight.”
The rules put forth under Rosenworcel are somewhat different than those previously introduced. Past FCC orders pursing net neutrality have been repeatedly challenged in court, giving the agency today a fair idea of which policies will be defensible in the onslaught of lawsuits definitely to come.
There were some changes. Some ISPs implemented zero-rating plans, the practice of avoiding some apps from data charges and slowing down internet speeds, she notes.
For the past six years, she says, “a lot of public scrutiny on the ISPs and then the attempts to bring back net neutrality in Congress basically kept the ISPs on their best behavior.”
Most people were unlikely to notice what happened after the repeal of net neutrality went into effect last year, according to a professor who supports net neutrality.
“net neutrality” aims to level the digital marketplace by forbidding internet service providers to run fast lanes and slow lanes for certain online services, like streaming services.
“Every consumer deserves internet access that is fast, open and fair,” FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said ahead of Thursday’s vote. This is not new.
The rules are sure to invite legal challenges from the telecoms industry — not for the first time. A future administration can always change the rules.
