Following the FCC's decision in September to prioritize this as a policy goal, it was anticipated that it would come to fruition. With a 3-2 majority in favor of the Democrats, there was little opposition within the Commission. Thus, Thursday's announcement, although important, is just another advancement towards achieving the goal.
Opponents of the ruling raised the same concerns as they did ten years ago, suggesting that net neutrality results in too many regulations, price controls, and hinders progress. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel countered by pointing out that the FCC enforces rules in other sectors using comparable authority (like Title II) without imposing excessively strict regulations and constraints.
She focused on pointing out inconsistencies that have happened recently. One example is when the FCC took away the ability for some wireless providers associated with Chinese state actors to operate, but broadband providers were not impacted because of actions taken by the previous FCC. This was discussed in a meeting on Thursday.
During her speech, Rosenworcel brought up how national security agencies have found evidence of Chinese carriers and other state-affiliated groups using insecure internet routing protocols to control our internet traffic. The previous administration of the FCC was asked to deal with this problem, but only responded with a meeting room discussion, failing to take any real action. This lack of action might not be sufficient to deter our enemies.
The United States is involved in undisclosed activities with China, and there are also internal problems that require attention. The FCC has updated the definition of broadband to 100 megabits per second for uploads and 25 megabits per second for downloads. I was notified by Xfinity via email on the day this change occurred, informing me that my internet speeds had been upgraded without any additional cost. While this may seem like a kind gesture, without the FCC's intervention, I may have had to pay more for slower internet speeds.
In the picture, we see Jessica Rosenworcel, who currently holds the position of Chairwoman at the FCC. The photo was taken by Chip Somodevilla from Getty Images.
The photo of FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is attributed to Chip Somodevilla from Getty Images.
Zero-rating is a practice where an internet service provider exempts certain services, like a streaming platform they have a stake in, from counting towards your data limit. If left unchecked, this could lead to unfair advantages for large corporations, particularly as more people are turning to streaming services for their TV viewing. The FCC plays a crucial role in preventing exclusive arrangements, like Cox Gigabit Plus being the only option for accessing popular shows like "Bridgerton."
Rosenworcel emphasized the importance of having a national policy on net neutrality in the current digital economy. This policy would give the nation's communications expert the ability to regulate broadband as needed. This is the main takeaway from the conversation.
Interested in knowing why there was a delay? Senate Republicans delayed the nomination of a fifth Commissioner for a long time, which made it difficult for the agency to make any major advancements. As soon as Anna Gomez was confirmed, the proposal for net neutrality was promptly put forward.
I have previously stated that the current regulations on net neutrality are not set in stone and could be challenged in court or altered based on election outcomes. Nevertheless, with a favorable administration, these regulations may become more permanent soon.
It is improbable that the principle of net neutrality will be maintained under a Trump presidency.
Rosenworcel commended California's state net neutrality regulations as a good illustration of why federal regulation is necessary. She acknowledged California's efforts but pointed out potential conflicts between state and federal regulations that should be resolved. It is important to establish a national rule to ensure a uniform level of protection, similar to what is done in other industries.
The rules will take a while to take effect, as they must first be published in the Federal Register and go through a waiting period. Despite this, it is unlikely that you will even notice when they do become active. Companies that attempted to disrupt broadband traffic learned that it was not worth the potential backlash from consumers and eventual federal regulations. As a result, they have been on their best behavior in anticipation of these rules being enforced. This has also allowed them to deny any past anti-consumer practices by stating that they have not engaged in such behavior for years. It is important not to blindly trust their claims.
If you would like to know more about the new rule, there is a helpful page with information and a video where Chairwoman Rosenworcel explains it thoroughly.