NetNeutrality
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The FCC votes to move forward with gutting net neutrality
Today, during an open commission meeting, the FCC voted to move forward with its plans to undo many rules enacted under the Obama administration meant to protect the principle of net neutrality. The most important part of this proposed rollback is changing broadband internet from being classified as a Title II service back to a Title I service. Title I has fewer rules regarding how traffic over the network is treated. Under Title II internet is regulated like a utility and requires that all data across the network be treated equally so long as it doesn't violate any laws. Under Title I however, ISPs are free to prioritize data as they see fit and even charge more to guarantee better service. This is of growing concern as the line between service providers and content providers continues to blur.
Anti-net neutrality bots are swarming the FCC's comments
It's not just proponents of net neutrality that are flocking to the FCC's website -- opponents are there as well... in a manner of speaking. Reports from ZDNet and elsewhere have revealed that one or more bots are posting thousands of identical comments (at least 128,000) in favor of the FCC's proposal to gut net neutrality rules. The automated code cycles alphabetically through a list of real names and addresses, pretending to support the FCC on their behalf. The agency declined to comment on the bot attack citing a policy where it doesn't discuss specific filings.
Net-neutrality supporters cripple the FCC website again (update)
Sunday night, John Oliver merely pointed out a problem (again), and the results were pretty predictable if you're familiar with the last time he did similar. The most recent episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight's main segment concerns net neutrality and all the ways Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai has tried explaining that it's a frivolous concept -- sentiments echoed by senator Ted Cruz and others in a recent Washington Post op-ed. Well, as a result of Oliver setting up a URL that makes it incredibly easy to express your interest in maintaining an open internet to the FCC, parts of the regulatory body's website have been crippled under the server load.
Republican Senators outline anti-net neutrality legislation
Utah Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill Monday aimed at nullifying the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules. "Few areas of our economy have been as dynamic and innovative as the internet," said the statement. "But now this engine of growth is threatened by the Federal Communications Commission's 2015 Open Internet Order, which would put federal bureaucrats in charge of engineering the Internet's infrastructure."
The federal courts have already given up on net neutrality
The head of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, has not been quiet about his plans to gut net neutrality, and the US legal system is taking him seriously. A federal court on Monday denied a group of internet service providers the chance to re-argue their case against net neutrality rules implemented by former President Barack Obama's administration. The judges' reasoning? The FCC is about to get rid of those regulations anyway.
The FCC doesn't care what you think about net neutrality
By now, you've probably heard what FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has in store for the internet in the United States. If not, here's the short version: Pai wants to strip the internet of its current status as a "common carrier" under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, roll back the "internet conduct standard" (a vague list of things service providers can't do to interfere with your online experience) and open a discussion about whether we need specific "bright-line" rules that prohibit blocking, throttling and paid prioritization. You may agree with Chairman Pai's assessment of the situation, or you might not. (For the record, most of us around here don't, for reasons we've made clear in the past.)
FCC Chairman outlines his plan to gut net neutrality
The future of net neutrality has been uncertain since the November election of Donald Trump. His FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, has made it clear he intends to scale back some of the regulations surrounding ISPs, but details have been scarce. Now we have an idea of the framework the commission will pursue, and it begins with revoking the classification of ISPs as a "common carrier" service under Title II, which has essentially treated the internet as a public utility for the last two years.
FCC may unveil softer net neutrality rules this week (update: confirmed)
Like it or not, the FCC may be close to divulging its plans for relaxing net neutrality rules. Recode contacts claim that Chairman Ajit Pai may talk about the softer regulation as soon as April 26th, when he speaks at a conservative group's event. There's no word on what the plan looks like now that Pai has talked to both internet companies and telecoms. However, the current belief is that Pai will only pay lip service to the net neutrality order he's planning to replace.
Canada strengthens net neutrality with zero-rating crackdown
In a victory for net neutrality, Canada's telecom regulator has ruled against a carrier offering 'free' music streaming as part of a zero-rating scheme. Quebecor's 'Unlimited Music' allows premium Videotron subscribers to use select streaming apps, such as Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal, without the data counting towards their monthly allowance. Many believe this type of scheme violates the principles of net neutrality, which argue all data should be treated equally. If certain apps are 'free' to use, others -- which could offer a superior experience, but simply don't have the cash to be involved in a carrier's program -- are put at an unfair disadvantage.
Internet giants resist the FCC's relaxed net neutrality rules
It's no secret that many people object to new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's plans to soften net neutrality rules, but the companies affected by these plans have now had a chance to object directly to his strategy. The Internet Association lobbying group, which represents tech companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google, has privately told Pai to maintain the existing rules rather than gut them. Net neutrality "preserves the consumer experience, competition and innovation," the Association said. It also objected to Pai's plans to have the FTC enforce the rules, saying that an "expert agency" like the FCC should be responsible.
FCC prepares for net neutrality reversal
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that Ajit Pai is preparing the ground for his rollback of Net Neutrality. The FCC chief reportedly sat down with telecoms groups to hash out his plan to end the regulations he has previously called a "mistake."
Verizon adds cult TV shows to its Go90 video service
Go90, Verizon's homegrown video network, is making a play for fans of cult TV all across the country after signing a deal with Warner Bros.. From today, the service is the new home of classic shows like Babylon 5, Fringe and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Then, in May, the beloved detective drama Veronica Mars will land on the service.
Verizon FiOS streaming no longer counts toward your data cap
Since chairman and net neutrality skeptic Ajit Pal dropped an FCC investigation into data-free "zero-rating," it's full speed ahead for carriers on unlimited video streaming. Verizon is piling on with its FiOS Mobile App, which now lets you to stream some 140+ channels, recorded DVR shows and movies on the go without impacting your wireless data cap. The new deal applies to FiOS internet and TV subscribers on Verizon's 5GB, Small, Medium and Large plans.
Congress begins rolling back Obama's broadband privacy rules
As expected, Republicans in Congress have begun the process of rolling back the FCC's broadband privacy rules which prevent excessive surveillance. Arizona Republican Jeff Flake introduced a resolution to scrub the rules, using Congress' powers to invalidate recently-approved federal regulations. Reuters reports that the move has broad support, with 34 other names throwing their weight behind the resolution.
ACLU and 170 other groups ask the FCC to keep net neutrality
The current FCC administration is determined to end net neutrality whatever the cost, but that isn't stopping policy groups from making a bid to save it. Over 170 groups (including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation) have sent a letter urging FCC chair Ajit Pai, Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and Republican Senator John Thune to maintain the 2015 net neutrality order. They believe that treating internet traffic equally is vital to making the internet an "engine of opportunity," and note that broadband investment is up despite internet providers' threats to the contrary. It's also vital to preserving competition and free speech for smaller outfits, the groups argue.
FCC chairman Ajit Pai calls net neutrality a 'mistake'
New FCC chairman Ajit Pai has made his views on net neutrality clear in the past: He's against it. But today at Mobile World Congress, Pai gave a wide-ranging speech in which he made his most pointed comments against net neutrality since taking over as chairman. When discussing the rules put into place in early 2015, Pai said they were "a mistake" and praised "light touch" internet regulation -- something that's sure to be on the FCC's agenda going forward.
FCC head puts the brakes on new ISP privacy rules
In the latest chip at net neutrality, Federal Communications Commission has Chairman Ajit Pai has moved to put a halt to a set of privacy rules designed to shield customers' personal data from internet service providers.
FCC lifts transparency requirements for some internet providers
The Federal Communications Commission today voted to remove reporting requirements for internet providers with fewer than 250,000 subscribers, a move that chips away at the foundation of net neutrality. Today's vote means these smaller carriers no longer have to publicly share information about data caps, fees, and network performance and management practices for at least five years.
The FCC stops investigating carrier's 'zero-rating' plans
Now that there's a new voice atop the FCC, priorities are changing. As part of a "Friday night news dump" -- as it's being called by fellow commissioner Mignon Clyburn -- the regulator announced it's done investigating carriers for "zero rating" programs that exclude some services from monthly data limits. T-Mobile's BingeOn, AT&T's DirecTV streaming and Verizon's Go90 have all been criticized as violating the principles of net neutrality, by treating some data differently from others. On cable, Comcast has had similar questions about its video-on-demand streaming (like the new support for Roku) and Stream TV.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 26: The Sounds of Science
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Nathan Ingraham join host Terrence O'Brien on the latest episode. First Dana and Nathan face off in the latest installment of Flame Wars, tackling the latest news around Google Voice, struggling streaming service Tidal and the Note 7. Then all three will try to unravel the first week of Donald Trump's presidency and what it means for science in particular.
