FCC Approves “Net Neutrality” Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has approved "high-level rules of the road." These rules have been designed to ensure that internet service providers grant everyone equal access to the web.

The vote was 3 to 2, with Democrats and Republicans on both sides, respectively. Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat, signed off on the rules, but wasn't completely satisfied with them. He calls them a "fist step in the right direction."

"In my book, today's action could have, and should have, gone further," he said. "Going as far as I would have liked was, however, not in the cards."

He said that the rules won't absolutely prevent broadband providers from "pay for priority", for example. Pay for priority means giving people faster service if they can pay for it. It can also mean giving a business faster internet than other ones, for example, if you had a friend at the service provider you could find a way to slow down your competitor's internet.

However, the regulations do say that these practices "generally violate" nondiscrimination rules.

According to CNN, Commissioner Robert McDowell, a Republican, called the vote a "radical step" and said it puts the FCC "on a collision course" with the courts, which he predicted will throw the rules out.

McDowell said that "nothing is broken in the internet-access market that needs fixing."

In a written statement, President Barack Obama called the rules an important part of his administration's goals. These goals are to advance American innovation, economic growth and job creation.

"Today's decision will help preserve the free and open nature of the Internet while encouraging innovation, protecting consumer choice, and defending free speech," Obama said.

This aligns with his promises as a candidate to support open-internet policies.

Despite the commission approving the rules, the possibility still remains for Congress to act to amend or weaken them. There are lawmakers that are considering legislation could repeal the rules.