Net Neutrality Rules and Current Bill Situation

Here’s all you should know about ‘’Net Neutrality Rules and Current Bill’’

The US Federal Commission Communication had proposed net neutrality regulations during both the Bush and Obama administration. However, at times FCC had to come across certain obstacles and hurdles in the implementation of net neutrality. While things become extremely out of control after the 2016 general elections.

Net Neutrality Rules:

After the 2016 general elections, Ajit Pai was elected as the new FCC Chairman. In December 2017, Ajit Pai officially declared that net neutrality regulations which were imposed during Obama regime were being repealed. The newly appointed chairman reversed the decision which was made in 2015 during the Obama regime.

Those regulations aimed to have stronger control over the broadband providers. Americans have roamed around the internet mostly for the sake of communications. The decision showed the views of both Trump and FCC Chairman. Both views suggest that free and uncontrolled business will lead to innovation and would help the country’s economy to increase.

The FCC voted to undo the rules. Their prime focus was on rules which regulate the matters, businesses which connect users to the internet. It also enables the broadband companies the authority to reform and redesign American’s online experiences.

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) canceled the so-called net neutrality rules. These rules compel the broadband providers to block websites, contents or charging extra fees for the higher quality of contents. Moreover, the federal government will be no longer able to control high-speed internet delivery.

The reaction of people after repulsion of Net Neutrality:

The Commission had faced public disagreement, objection, and legal challenges from different public interest groups, state attorneys general. Also, the Democratic lawmakers ask them to reverse the decision.

The rivals argued that repulsion of net neutrality regulations would open the door for ISPs. They can censor online content or charge extra fees for better service. This is something alarming for small corporations. Several states have taken measures to enforce the regulations on a local level.

Net Neutrality Current Bill:

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), a Member of US Representatives, look forward to reestablish net neutrality provisions. As a result on July 18, 2018, introduced a bill that would collect and organize free internet rules into law.

The bill was titled as ‘’The 21^ST Century Internet Act’’. The measures would bring about the basic outlines of the Federal Communication Commission’s 2015 Open Internet Directives. These directives excluded throttling and blocking of content along with harmful paid prioritization practices.

Surprisingly, the Republican congressman has already signed on to a Democrat-led effort. They do so to reestablish the net neutrality regulations which the FCC voted to repeal the previous year.

In December 2017, the FCC asked for a vote to repeal net neutrality. It was Coffman who asked the commission to deferral his vote. In an open letter, a request to the FCC by congressman was made. The request was to permit time for the legal authorities to make a replacement bill. The replacement bill could work as a negotiation between the two. It means the rules put in place by the Open Internet Order and previous more negligent regulations.

The Member of US Representatives, Coffman had said;

‘’The internet has been and remains a transformative tool, and I am concerned any action you may take to alter the rules under which it functions may well have significant unanticipated negative consequences. I believe Congress can find the right balance of light-touch regulatory authority while celebrating the same open internet protections that exist today.’’

The aim of the 21^st Century Internet Act:

The 21^st Century Internet Act aims to reorganize the current agenda by which the internet has been ruled since the 90’s. The previous net neutrality regulations discussions and arguments have just focused around the ‘’Telecommunications Act’’ which classify best-fit broadband. With Title I, the broadband would be known as a service; while under Title II, it would define it as a utility.

However, the Obama Commissions of Open Internet Directives described broadband as Title II. It means utility, banning the service providers from throttling, blocking, and paid prioritization. However, after a period of two years, Ajit Pai’s FCC voted to reconsider broadband as a service. Thus removing all the legal ground for the FCC to confirm that service providers treat all internet traffic data equally.

Coffman’s Bill Past the Previous Argument:

Coffman’s bill was moved by making amendments in the 1934 Telecommunications Act. It then adds a new Title VIII in the existing one. The new classification would ‘’permanently codify into the law the four corners of net neutrality’’. It will prohibit ISPs from regulating the quality of traffic data and speed. Also, banning them from participating in paid prioritization programs or charging fees from providers.

For the purpose of providing constant, secure, and established grounds for net neutrality regulations to be supported in the future. The legal authorities make it prohibited for the service providers to take part in ‘’unfair or fraudulent acts or practices’’. The legislation guides the FCC to poke around the claims of anticompetitive behaviour. They will do so on behalf of users after getting their complaints.

Statement by Internet Association:

The Internet Association, an organization which denotes internet companies like Facebook and Google, in a statement commended Coffman for his bill. The group wrote:

‘’A majority of Americans agree that consumers should have access to the entire internet and ISPs should not be able to engage in blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization of traffic on the internet. The 21st Century Internet Act reflects these principles and is a step in the right direction.’’

 Current Net Neutrality Situation:

After Rep.Mike Doyle introduced the bill in the House. The petition requires 218 members in order to force the vote. If all the members approved the bill then it would move forward on to the president’s desk.

After the introduction of bill, the lawmakers gathered to sign the petition. However, Coffman’s message has the ability to assemble Republicans to induce the petition across the simple majority.

Recently on September 30^th, the Trump administration had declared that it will annul California in an attempt to block what some connoisseurs have termed as the toughest net neutrality law ever passed in the US. It aimed to set up a high standard of a legal showdown over the future of the internet.

If you want to know more about the current development regarding net neutrality regulations so you can follow this link.