You probably don't have Broadband anymore/Net Neutrality

[Don]

Mods - this is more of a news item than it is just computers, so please don't move it down there.

http://www.wired.com/2015/02/fcc-chairman-wheeler-net-neutrality/

Last week, the FCC re-defined broadband as 25mbps down/3mbps up. MOST Americans currently, through AT&T, DISH, and other ISPs, only have at best 20mbps down/1mbps up. Because of the re-definition, those of us, especially in rural areas, can no longer be classified as having "broadband internet."

Today, the FCC chairman proclaimed enforcement of Net Neutrality.

These enforceable, bright-line rules will ban paid prioritization, and the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services. I propose to fully apply—for the first time ever—those bright-line rules to mobile broadband.

I personally agree with these statements. America has some of the worst internet access in the world; and I think this step is a good one towards ensuring we can access information when we want, rather than have to deal with throttling because we've exceeded our data limits for the month.

The part that worries me is this:

To preserve incentives for broadband operators to invest in their networks, my proposal will modernize Title II, tailoring it for the 21st century, in order to provide returns necessary to construct competitive networks. For example, there will be no rate regulation, no tariffs, no last-mile unbundling.

That last part worries me, because ISPs could use the first part as reason to claim increased cost for internet service due to increase technology requirements; but without rate regulation, that increased cost (passed on to you and me) could become quite unreasonable....

Anyone have other thoughts on this subject, or another way to look at it?

 

[InTheLight]

Anyone have other thoughts on this subject, or another way to look at it?

It's a complex issue.

If the FCC is going to classify internet access and mobile access to be a regulated utility, I don't see how they can say there won't be rate regulation. There is price regulation with the other utilities like electricity, gas, water, etc.

I think the only thing that can be said with certainty is if this government plan gets enacted everyone will have the same crappy government mandated slow internet speeds and there will be little or no innovation by ISPs to bring us higher speeds or improved technology. This will lead to the government controlling access to the internet and higher taxes to pay for their idea of innovation.

I think a better solution would be new laws saying ISPs must provide a baseline connection speed and can't throttle speeds on anybody's access. That is the main issue here, the throttling of speeds. So make that go away and leave the industry alone. Frankly, I like having the freedom of choice to buy higher access speeds above the base speed offerings.