In a statement today, the President Obama asks the FCC to reclassify broadband under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. In simple terms, this would officially define broadband as a vital part of every day life and give the FCC additional power in preventing bandwith prioritization for the highest bidder.
The statement comes as part of a larger effort by the White House to preserve net neutrality – the idea that all data on the internet should be treated equally so that businesses and internet providers can’t control what content you have access to.
To preserve net neutrality, Obama suggests the FCC enforce a number of rules, including:
No blocking of websites so long as they are legal
No throttling based on an ISP’s preferences
Increased transparency between ISPs and users
No paid prioritization to prevent wealthy businesses to be able to pay their way to quicker speeds over the competition.
While this is not the first time the President has shown support for net neutrality, this is is his most detailed and effusive statement on the matter yet.
Follow this link to the full article on TNW