Intel, Cisco, and IBM Join Dozens Of Other Tech Titans In Net Neutrality Debate
The Federal Communications Commission has been considering the implementation of new neutrality rules in an attempt to determine how internet service providers should manage web traffic on their networks. The outcry against the FCC and the concept of “fast lanes,” in addition to treating IPSs more like public utility companies, continues to grow with many network companies and equipment manufacturers going so far as to tell U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker how these policies could hurt the internet and U.S. economy.
The latest group to join the protests and outcry are 33 companies that include Intel Corp, Cisco Systems Inc, and IBM. These companies, along with services such as Netflix, argue that the FCC’s plan would be a threat to content providers who do not have deep pockets which would regulate them to “slow lanes” under the proposed policy.
The policy, proposed by FCC chairman Tom Wheeler would let ISPs charge content companies, such as Netflix, for faster internet. However, failure to pay these fees would result in slower speeds for these companies.
Because of the effects such a policy could have on companies dependent on ISP services, these groups are calling on the FCC to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service instead of the less-regulated information service it currently is. By reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service, it would give the FCC more power to stop any potential violators of net neutrality.
Unfortunately, both ISPs and Republicans in Congress and the FCC have rejected the idea.
As September 15 rapidly approaches, the deadline for when the FCC will stop collecting public comments, companies are coming up with ways to show their disapproval. For example, Mozilla, Reddit, and other popular sites have planned a “Go Slow” day on September 10 to show the potential affects the proposed policies will have on their sites.
Where do you stand when it comes to these proposed net neutrality rules and regulations?
