United States Communications Agency, FCC, will vote yes today restore net neutrality rules and achieve a free, open and non-discriminatory internet.

Note to the uninitiated that the term “Net Neutrality” refers to the way Internet access providers, governments, or major organizations that regulate their use treat data traffic equally, without discrimination, regardless of the service or application used, communication mode. or hardware device used.

A principle that emerged a few years ago at Columbia University, which, in addition to a a fundamental right of the digital age, aims to protect innovation; equal business opportunity for small businesses; fundamental rights in the digital age such as opinion and expression; maintain affordable prices for access; prevent blocking of certain content and political control of networks and the Internet.

Vote to bring back net neutrality rules

The Obama administration established criteria to defend a neutral internet and prohibited discriminatory use of access providers by defining them as public serviceswhich guaranteed that the services provided by them would not be limited in any way, with open access for all and equal treatment of data traffic without discrimination.

A lobby of powerful US telecommunications operators saw an opportunity to change the norm when Donald Trump they arrived at the White House and were lobbying to put one of their own in charge of the FCC, the most important communications agency on the planet. Ajit Pai came to the position from his position as a lawyer for Verizon… It was clear that his only goal was to end net neutrality rules. And so it happened.

With the Democrats coming to power, Ajit Pai was ousted from office, but FCC is blocked for 3 years until last October. Until now. Back in July 2021, Joe Biden signed an executive order urging the FCC to restore net neutrality rules enacted during Barack Obama’s presidency.

And that is what is being voted on this afternoon.. The commission is expected to reclassify internet service providers (ISPs) AT&T, Comcast and others as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. This classification would open ISPs to greater oversight by the FCC. Proponents of the measure say surveillance can help ensure fair access to the open Internet by enforcing policies such as not blocking or throttling Internet traffic.

Opponents, including large technology and service providers, fear it could stifle innovation and subject ISPs to onerous pricing regulations, which the agency has already denied and promised. “abstain from rate regulation”. Either way, the vote is expected to benefit the restoration of net neutrality, as FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, now controls the agency’s agenda with a Democratic majority.