Four major trade associations representing broadband providers today asked for an immediate halt to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to reclassify the providers as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act.
From the Ars Technica article:
The Federal Communications Commission today voted to enforce net neutrality rules that prevent Internet providers—including cellular carriers—from blocking or throttling traffic or giving priority to Web services in exchange for payment. The most controversial part of the FCC's decision reclassifies fixed and mobile broadband as a telecommunications service, with providers to be regulated as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. This decision brings Internet service under the same type of regulatory regime faced by wireline telephone service and mobile voice, though the FCC is forbearing from stricter utility-style rules that it could also apply under Title II.
However, things aren't cut and dry. One petition for a stay came from two cable groups, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the American Cable Association (ACA). Another petition came from the CTIA Wireless Association on behalf of mobile carriers and USTelecom on behalf of telcos including AT&T and Verizon. AT&T and CenturyLink also signed on to the CTIA/USTelecom petition.
From the NCTA.com article:
NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell said, “While we continue to strongly support enforceable open Internet protections, we are deeply concerned that Title II regulation will immediately harm the industry and consumers, and retard efforts to deploy next generation networks throughout the country. We further believe that the FCC’s decision to shift from a national policy of light Internet regulation established by Congress to heavier regulation risks undercutting the dynamic innovation, entrepreneurial activity and consumer freedom that has been the hallmark of the Internet’s success
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 04 2015, @02:34PM
> I'm advocating two independent systems administered by two independent groups.
If the cost of a cable plant for an ISP was not such a huge barrier to entry, that would be a mighty fine idea.
But the physical constraints of the laws of physics being what they are, we have to deal with the reality of natural monopolies.