The FCC is firm on launching net neutrality laws and has denied the petition filed by Internet service providers AT&T, USTelecom, and CenturyLink among others.
The Federal Communications Commission faced lawsuits from US telcos for trying to protect net neutrality. On May 1, the aforementioned companies have tried to delay the FCC on implementing the "Open Internet order," where consumers get the freedom to "go where they want, when they want."
The re-classification of broadband Internet as a service for telecommunications is under its statutory authority and is also consistent with the Supreme Court precedent, fully complying with the Administrative Procedure Act, the FCC stated last Friday.
Although the latest petition has been halted, the Commission still needs to get the ruling approved by court, as well as successfully halt future lawsuits and petitions from telcos.
The new rules, if implemented, would greatly affect how consumers sign up for Internet services, and would change how service contracts are written and done. Because of this, five industry leaders have requested the FCC to delay the re-classification of ISPs as "common carriers," which are subject to the Title II regulation. The companies have also argued that the act would be against public interest.
"The FCC's Open Internet rules are designed to protect free expression and innovation on the Internet and promote investment in the nation's broadband networks. The Open Internet rules are grounded in the strongest possible legal foundation by relying on multiple sources of authority, including: Title II of the Communications Act and Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996," the FCC explained on its official website.
It also mentioned that Internet service providers will no longer be allowed to throttle, block, or "create fast lanes" for some content. The new rules would make for better broadband services for consumers, which the Commission also said would be "lawful Internet services, applications and content" for the general public.
The new Open Internet rules would also maintain and protect uninhibited and open access to legal content on the Internet, which ISPs can no longer block or impair.
