SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Democrats' Net Neutrality Bill Survives First Vote:
A bill backed by House Democrats to reinstate Obama-era net neutrality protections passed its first hurdle Tuesday.
Democrats pushed the Save the Internet Act through the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee in an 18-11 vote that fell along party lines. The legislation codifies rules that were repealed in December 2017 by the Republican-led FCC. As part of this repeal, the FCC abdicated its authority to protect consumers online to the Federal Trade Commission.
The bill introduced by Democrats is an attempt to end a nearly two-decade-old fight over how best to prevent broadband companies from abusing their power as gatekeepers to the internet. Specifically, it prevents broadband providers from blocking, slowing down or charging for faster access to the internet. But it also restores the FCC's authority as the "cop on the beat" when it comes to policing potential broadband abuses.
Republicans have criticized the legislation as giving the FCC too much authority to regulate ISPs.
What are the odds that it will pass?
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday March 27 2019, @05:48PM (3 children)
What are we using the internet for right now?
Is this communication, or is it trade?
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Wednesday March 27 2019, @08:20PM (1 child)
The thing is, it's both. Communication *is* trading information.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday March 27 2019, @11:59PM
This means that the ISPs should be nothing more than dumb pipes. The service they trade is, or at least should be, "a connection", nothing more.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 28 2019, @03:51AM
Definitely both. I for one pay for my connection. Many people shop online. And it's certainly cross state, even global.