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posted by janrinok on Friday December 15 2017, @08:05AM   Printer-friendly

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to dismantle rules regulating the businesses that connect consumers to the internet, granting broadband companies the power to potentially reshape Americans' online experiences.

The agency scrapped the so-called net neutrality regulations that prohibited broadband providers from blocking websites or charging for higher-quality service or certain content. The federal government will also no longer regulate high-speed internet delivery as if it were a utility, like phone service.

The action reversed the agency's 2015 decision, during the Obama administration, to have stronger oversight over broadband providers as Americans have migrated to the internet for most communications. It reflected the view of the Trump administration and the new F.C.C. chairman that unregulated business will eventually yield innovation and help the economy.

It will take weeks for the repeal to go into effect, so consumers will not see any of the potential changes right away. But the political and legal fight started immediately. Numerous Democrats on Capitol Hill called for a bill that would reestablish the rules, and several Democratic state attorneys general, including Eric T. Schneiderman of New York, said they would file a suit to stop the change.


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by crafoo on Friday December 15 2017, @05:18PM (2 children)

    by crafoo (6639) on Friday December 15 2017, @05:18PM (#610363)

    It reflected the view of the Trump administration and the new F.C.C. chairman that unregulated business will eventually yield innovation and help the economy.

    Unregulated government-granted monopolies will yield innovation and help the economy. Sure, sure. That makes sense. That's how markets work.

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  • (Score: 3, Touché) by redneckmother on Friday December 15 2017, @06:52PM

    by redneckmother (3597) on Friday December 15 2017, @06:52PM (#610399)

    Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Just like the "trickle down" in the '80s - I'm still yellow and wet.

    --
    Mas cerveza por favor.
  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday December 15 2017, @09:39PM

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Friday December 15 2017, @09:39PM (#610486) Journal

    Crafoo, you and the other anti-gubbamint types seem to be missing something: ANY concentration of too much power in too few hands is a problem, whether government or private. In the end it doesn't matter, not even a little bit. Human nature is human nature. Your government vs private corporation dichotomy is false. Pull your fucking head out and get with the program.

    --
    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...